Barriers and Opportunities in Cancer Pain Management: A Qualitative Study on Pharmacists' Role

Introduction: Cancer pain remains a critical issue for patients' quality of life, affecting their physiology, psychology, and social relationships. Despite the widely recognized role of pharmacists in pain management, their involvement in palliative care in Greece remains limited. This study focuses on exploring the perceptions and experiences of pharmacists regarding their role in cancer pain management, identifying barriers, required skills, and proposing strategies for their integration in the multidisciplinary team. Μaterials and Μethods: Qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with seven pharmacists in the Attica region. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results: The analysis revealed four main themes: (1) limited access to medical records and challenges in pharmaceutical decision-making, (2) lack of institutional frameworks and a culture of collaboration, (3) need for specialized education and continuous training, and (4) understaffing and bureaucracy, faced by pharmacists. Discussion: This study highlights the underutilized role of pharmacists in cancer pain management in Greece. Barriers such as restricted access to patient records, weak interdisciplinary collaboration, insufficient training, and bureaucratic constraints limit their contribution. Structured frameworks and collaborative cultures can enhance pharmacists' involvement, while education and continuous training are essential to strengthen their legitimacy within care teams. Digital tools can improve access to patient information and support evidence-based decisions. Conclusions: Pharmacists' integration in the patient's management team has significant benefits for the patient's quality of life. Strengthening pharmacists' involvement in cancer pain management requires the establishment of collaborations, continuous education, bureaucratic simplification, and the integration of digital tools. The development of practical resources, such as educational guides, can play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of care provided.