Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Communication
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Limited research exists on reasonable accommodations for individuals with mild/moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) living independently.
• This study addresses the need to understand pharmacist practices in supporting this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively investigate how pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for people with intellectual disabilities (ID).
• To explore strategies used by pharmacists to facilitate communication and medication management for individuals with ID.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 hospital or community pharmacists.
• Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach to identify accommodation strategies.

Main Results:

• Three main themes emerged: comprehension aids, reminders, and structural accommodations.
• Pharmacists used simple language, visual aids, adjusted speech, provided written information, and illustrated medication sequences.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists utilize various strategies to improve medication understanding, adherence, and safety for people with ID.
• These accommodations foster better patient-pharmacist relationships and support independent living for individuals with ID.