Discussing alcohol in medicines use reviews: experiences of patients in a community pharmacy context

Although pharmacist-led medicines use reviews (MURs) are effective for medicines management, little is understood about patients' experiences of alcohol-related advice delivered therein. Sampling a population at high risk for misuse (within an area of socio-economic deprivation), we explored patient experiences of alcohol-related MURs.

Two focus groups were conducted with patients who had discussed alcohol in an MUR in the preceding 3 months (n = 9). Data were analysed thematically.

Patients were open to discussing alcohol in the MUR context. The absence of practitioner-patient power asymmetry and pharmacists' sensitivity to cultural contexts were critical to patient engagement.