The potential for clinical pharmacists to support older people with dementia in the community: A qualitative interview study.

Abstract

Aims: The prevalence of multiple long-term health conditions including dementia is rising globally. Managing dementia presents significant challenges for healthcare providers. Clinical pharmacists, with expertise in medication management, have emerged as valuable members of the primary care team. However, there is a need for further research to understand their specific role and experiences in supporting people with dementia. The aim of this paper was to explore the views and experiences of primary care based clinical pharmacists in supporting people with dementia in the community.

Methods: We conducted 13 semistructured interviews with primary care clinical pharmacists in England in 2023-2024. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Three overarching themes were developed from the data: (i) holistic care beyond medication management; (ii) the integral role and capacity of clinical pharmacists in the healthcare team and system when delivering dementia care; and (iii) building expertise in dementia care and defining the role of a clinical pharmacist.

Conclusion: Clinical pharmacist roles have the potential to extend beyond medication management to deliver holistic support, as part of primary care based multidisciplinary teams and take a proactive approach to care for people with dementia. Findings highlight the importance of confidence, training and a supportive workplace environment for clinical pharmacists to effectively contribute to dementia care.