Why do sleep disorders remain undermanaged? Insights from pharmacists and physicians using the COM-B framework

IF 2.5 4区医学 Q3 PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-20 DOI:10.1016/j.japh.2026.103026

Raya Aljobowry, Lujain Aloum, Amna M. Othman, Elizabeth Manias, Rana M. Ibrahim, Safa Ziad Alawad, Hamzah Alzubaidi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

There is limited understanding of how community pharmacists and physicians support sleep health management in Arabic-speaking countries.

Objectives

This study aims to utilize the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model to explore the perspectives and practices of pharmacists and physicians in addressing sleep health issues and identify the drivers and barriers influencing these practices.

Methods

Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of pharmacists and physicians in the United Arab Emirates. Interview guides were developed based on the COM-B framework. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were coded using NVivo software Version 14 (formerly QSR International) and analyzed deductively based on the theoretical framework.

Results

A total of 45 health care providers (29 pharmacists and 16 physicians) were interviewed. Participants perceived sleep-related concerns in the general population to be insufficiently addressed. Shared barriers to addressing sleep concerns included limited time, lack of knowledge, and formal training, and stigma surrounding sleep. Pharmacists referred chronic cases to physicians and dispensed sedating antihistamines or herbal products to acute cases and were hindered by the lack of private counseling areas and limited therapeutic options. Physicians were reluctant to prescribe medications due to possible dependency and insurance concerns. Both provider groups recognized the importance of sleep to overall health and expressed motivation to help their patients.

Conclusions

This study provides shared and profession-specific barriers and enablers that shape sleep health care provision practices of pharmacists and physicians in the region. It provides avenues for targeted interventions to improve sleep health care delivery in primary care and community settings.

查看原文本刊更多论文

为什么睡眠障碍仍未得到有效管理？药剂师和医生使用COM-B框架的见解。

背景：关于阿拉伯语国家社区药剂师和医生如何支持睡眠健康管理的了解有限。本研究旨在运用能力-机会-动机-行为（COM-B）模型，探讨药师和医生在解决睡眠健康问题方面的观点和实践，并找出影响这些实践的驱动因素和障碍。方法：对阿拉伯联合酋长国的药剂师和医生进行半结构化的个人访谈。访谈指南是根据COM-B框架编制的。所有采访都有录音记录，并逐字抄写。使用NVivo软件版本14对数据进行编码，并根据理论框架进行演绎分析。结果：共访谈45名医疗服务提供者（药师29名，医师16名）。参与者认为，一般人群中与睡眠有关的问题没有得到充分解决。解决睡眠问题的共同障碍包括时间有限，缺乏知识和正规培训，以及围绕睡眠的耻辱。药剂师将慢性病例转介给医生，并为急性病例配发镇静抗组胺药或草药产品，但由于缺乏私人咨询领域和有限的治疗选择而受到阻碍。由于可能的依赖性和保险方面的考虑，医生不愿意开药物。两组提供者都认识到睡眠对整体健康的重要性，并表达了帮助患者的动机。结论：本研究提供了共同的和专业特定的障碍和促进因素，形成了该地区药剂师和医生的睡眠卫生保健提供实践。它为有针对性的干预措施提供了途径，以改善初级保健和社区环境中的睡眠卫生保健服务。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association 医学-药学

CiteScore

3.30

自引率

14.30%

发文量

336

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of the American Pharmacists Association is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), providing information on pharmaceutical care, drug therapy, diseases and other health issues, trends in pharmacy practice and therapeutics, informed opinion, and original research. JAPhA publishes original research, reviews, experiences, and opinion articles that link science to contemporary pharmacy practice to improve patient care.