Related Experiment Videos
Stakeholders' views of the implementation of pharmacist prescribing in the community pharmacy setting: a
Anna Colthorpe1, Aoife Fleming1,2, Suzanne McCarthy1
1School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Background:
Pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacies is gaining traction globally as a strategy to enhance medication access. However, uptake remains inconsistent, making it essential to understand stakeholder perspectives to identify factors shaping successful implementation.
Aim:
To synthesise the views, experiences, perceived benefits, concerns, and contextual influences of key stakeholders regarding pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacies across implementation stages.
Method:
A mixed-methods systematic review using a convergent integrated approach was conducted. Five databases were searched from inception to March 2025. Primary research studies were included where ≥1 key study focus was on stakeholders' views of pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacies. Thematic synthesis was used to generate themes.
Results:
Five analytical themes explained variation in implementation: (1) support, motivation, and clinical readiness; (2) structural, policy, and organisational conditions shaping feasibility; (3) patient-centred access, continuity, and therapeutic relationships; (4) moral responsibility, risk, and safe practice boundaries; and (5) professional identity, autonomy, and legitimacy. Overall, the literature reflected support for pharmacist prescribing, particularly for low-risk, protocol-driven conditions and collaborative care models, although views varied across stakeholder groups and contexts. Perceived benefits included improved medication access, adherence, convenience, and patient satisfaction. Concerns remained regarding accountability, medico-legal risk, care fragmentation, workload, reimbursement, and commercial conflicts of interest. Confidence, training, interprofessional collaboration, and access to records strongly influenced implementation.
Conclusion:
Pharmacist prescribing is shaped by interacting individual, organisational and system-level factors. Sustainable implementation requires integrated care models, workforce development, governance frameworks, and supportive policy. This review offers actionable insights for policymakers and healthcare systems seeking to integrate pharmacist prescribing into routine care.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacovigilance
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
Analysis of Population Pharmacokinetic Data
Impact of Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Models: Regulatory Decisions
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Dosage Regimens: Partial Pharmacokinetic Parameters
Measurement of Bioavailability: Pharmacodynamic Methods