Community pharmacists' perceptions on providing fall prevention services: a mixed-methods study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Public Health

Background:

• Community pharmacists play a role in fall prevention by identifying and deprescribing fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs).
• Assessing pharmacists' perspectives is crucial for optimizing fall prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate community pharmacists' perceptions of providing fall prevention services.
• To identify barriers and facilitators influencing pharmacists' engagement in fall prevention, including FRID deprescribing.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving 313 pharmacists (surveys/ranking) and 16 interviewed pharmacists in the Netherlands.
• Quantitative data analyzed using descriptive statistics; qualitative data analyzed using the capability opportunity motivation-behaviour model.

Main Results:

• Pharmacists expressed motivation and capability in fall prevention, particularly FRID deprescribing.
• Key barriers included limited multidisciplinary collaboration, patient reluctance to deprescribe, and time constraints.
• Facilitators identified were goal-setting, financial incentives, and effective communication skills.

Conclusions:

• Community pharmacists are motivated and capable of medication-related fall prevention.
• Enhancing opportunities through improved multidisciplinary collaboration and support is essential for pharmacists to effectively contribute to fall prevention services.