Theoretically informed focus group study on pharmacists' perceptions of the identification, management and...

This study aimed to apply the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to describe community pharmacists' perspectives on the identification, management, and documentation of drug-related problems (DRPs).

A qualitative focus group study using purposive sampling of community pharmacists across 8 Austrian Federal States. The interview guide comprised discussion points and prompts mapped to TDF domains, focusing on participants' perceptions of the identification and management of DRPs in daily practice. Transcripts were independently coded by two researchers using the TDF to examine behaviours related to DRP identification, management, and documentation.

23 participants across four focus groups described professional identity and active involvement in the identification and management of DRPs, despite the lack of formalised procedures. Highly personalised practices and self-directed learning compensated for limited structured clinical training. DRP management was shaped by legal constraints, communication barriers, cognitive overload, and technical limitations. Participants expressed the need for integrated documentation systems, strengthened interprofessional collaboration, and enhanced education to support more systematic practice.

This focus group research demonstrated that Austrian community pharmacists lack the systemic support necessary to formalise the identification and management of DRPs. The results highlighted the need for standardised documentation to enable DRP management, improve communication with healthcare providers, and promote the growth of professional roles.