BJGP Open最新文献

{"title":"Use of digital technology among patients with multiple long-term conditions: a qualitative systematic review.","authors":"Laura Jefferson, Ana Castro Avila, Eleonora Uphoff, Ibrahim Otour, Faraz Siddiqui, Karen Bloor","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0043","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prevalence of multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) is increasing internationally. More common in older people and those from disadvantaged communities, MLTCs can generate substantial treatment expenditure, presenting a global challenge for healthcare systems. Digital technologies offer an opportunity to support self-management in the community, reducing pressures on patients and healthcare systems.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To appraise and synthesise qualitative literature exploring patients' experiences of using digital technology to manage MLTCs.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Systematic review of international literature.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Embase, and PubMed (to October 2023), with backward and forward citation searches (January 2024) for studies exploring patients' experiences of managing MLTCs using digital technologies. We used Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) for quality assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fourteen reports (13 studies) were included, predominantly from North America. We included studies exploring patients' experiences of internet use for health information, peer-support videoconferencing, electronic personal health records, and apps or digital systems for home telemonitoring. Three themes explored (1) patients' lived experience, (2) key components of digital technologies, and (3) potential benefits of well-designed digital technology. Patient experiences with digital health technologies are influenced by their health literacy, trust in providers, and existing self-management practices. Patients need simple, patient-centred, and user-tested digital health tools. If successful, they may empower patients, and improve access and communication with healthcare professionals. Poorly designed tools risk disengagement. Healthcare professionals need training and capacity to support collaborative use.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Digital technologies may empower patients' self-management. Patient-centred design is key to support potential benefits, making sure not to exacerbate patient and healthcare professional burden and inequalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Delivering a primary care review for people prescribed opioids for persistent pain: a qualitative study on the facilitators and barriers facing practice pharmacists.","authors":"Charlotte Woodcock, Nicola Cornwall, Sarah A Harrisson, Julie Ashworth, Lisa Dikomitis, Toby Helliwell, Eleanor Hodgson, Roger Knaggs, Christian D Mallen, Tamar Pincus, Miriam Santer, Simon White, Clare Jinks","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0156","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Often, people living with persistent non-cancer pain are prescribed opioids long term, despite a lack of evidence for their long-term effectiveness and safety. This study informed the design of a new practice pharmacist-led review (the PROMPPT review) for people prescribed opioids for persistent pain in UK primary care.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore the perspectives of pharmacists working in UK general practice regarding the proposed PROMPPT review, and to identify barriers to and facilitators of its delivery in practice, including supporting opioid deprescribing where appropriate.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Multi-method qualitative study conducted with pharmacists working in primary care, who were recruited via professional networks predominantly in the East Midlands and West Midlands, UK.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Pharmacists with experience of consulting in primary care participated in semi-structured interviews (<i>n</i> = 13) and two focus groups (<i>n</i> = 16) to explore attitudes to, beliefs about, and experiences of the proposed PROMPPT review for people living with persistent pain. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) provided a framework for data collection and thematic analysis. Facilitators and barriers were mapped to components of the Capability Opportunity Motivation - Behaviour (COM-B) model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 16 facilitators and barriers relating to the delivery of the PROMPPT review were identified across 10 domains of the TDF. Factors included access to evidence-based patient-facing resources, receiving professional colleagues' peer support, and having a therapeutic alliance with patients. These mapped to the COM-B model components as follows: capability (knowledge, skills), opportunity (environmental context and resources, social influences), and motivation (social or professional role and identity, beliefs about capabilities, beliefs about consequences, intentions, goals, emotions).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides theoretically based evidence of factors influencing pharmacists' delivery of the proposed PROMPPT review in relation to pharmacist capability, motivation, and opportunity. This work informed the co-design of both the intervention and the pharmacist training package.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145252908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Slow walking speed and risk of cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.","authors":"Richard Baskerville, Fiona Reid, Pippa Oakeshott, Rebecca Fortescue","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0162","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and detection of CVD risk is a key part of routine care. Slow walking speed is strongly correlated with CVD events in the general population.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To see whether there is an association between reduced walking speed and increased CVD incidence in people with T2DM.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Systematic review of studies of people with T2DM.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We searched studies in which usual walking speed was recorded, and participants were followed up for subsequent fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. PubMed Central, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar were searched in December 2024. Studies were screened by two independent reviewers. Studies reporting walking speed or comparable indices and CVD outcomes in T2DM were included. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Heterogeneity of study populations prevented meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 1281 studies identified, 53 full texts were retrieved and four were included, which were all of good quality. These involved 132 967 individuals with diabetes from the USA, the UK, and Japan. Mean study follow-up was 3-14 years. All four studies assessed walking speed by self-reported questionnaire and reported significant associations between reduced walking speed and increased CVD risk with risk or hazard ratios ranging from 1.18-5.88 (<i>P</i><0.001-0.0001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This is the first systematic review to indicate an association between reduced walking speed and increased CVD incidence in T2DM. This association is seen across diverse populations and settings. Further research in T2DM could explore whether increasing walking speed reduces CVD risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145906948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GPs' perceptions of unintelligible text or codes in discharge summaries as potential threats to patient safety: a nationwide survey.","authors":"Thorbjørn Hougaard Mikkelsen, Jesper Bo Nielsen, Maria Munch Storsveen, Jens Søndergaard","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0079","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Follow-up by the GP after the patient's discharge from hospital is important for patient safety and reduces the risk of readmission to hospital. Hence, it is important that discharge summaries provide effective discharge communication to general practice.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate whether GPs perceive incomprehensible text elements in discharge summaries as a potential threat to patient safety.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Nationwide survey among a representative sample of Danish GPs.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A questionnaire was prepared for GPs based on background material, focus group interviews, and discussions with relevant professionals. It was subsequently pilot tested by fellow researchers and GPs and revised before the presently reported survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 310 participating GPs, 201 (64.8%) 'totally agree' or 'partially agree' that discharge summaries contain incomprehensible text or codes, causing them concern about missing important information in discharge summaries. In total, 238 (76.8%) participants 'totally agree' or 'partially agree' that incomprehensible text or codes in discharge summaries are a threat to patient safety.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The survey reveals that most GPs find discharge summaries contain incomprehensible text or codes, which raises concerns about missing critical information that may pose a threat to patient safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Professionals' views and experiences of the TrainDEEP (TRaining Assistance INitiative in DEep End Practices) pilot: transforming GP practices into training practices in disadvantaged areas in the North East of England.","authors":"Alisha Gupta, Mihirini Sirisena, Gillian Vance, Matthew Armstrong, Sarah Sowden","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0090","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The North East and North Cumbria Deep End (NENC DE) Network comprises GPs and primary care staff serving the most socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. GPs often work in practices where they have trained, yet there are fewer training practices (TPs) in the Deep End (DE), limiting recruitment opportunities. TRaining Assistance INitiative in DEep End Practices (TrainDEEP) aims to increase TP numbers, to enhance GP recruitment, and to improve healthcare access for communities with the greatest need.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to explore the views and experiences of professionals involved in the TrainDEEP intervention designed to transform DE practices into TPs to enhance GP recruitment and retention in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>A qualitative longitudinal study involving professionals working in two DE practices in the North East of England, who were part of the TrainDEEP intervention.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Semi-structured interviews were conducted at two points during the 12-month intervention. Transcripts were coded inductively and thematically analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 17 interviews with 10 participants were conducted (September 2023 to February 2025). The following three main themes emerged: (1) becoming a TP, including resource provision and barriers; (2) training in a DE context, focusing on learning opportunities, and recruitment and retention challenges and solutions; and (3) impact on the practice, evaluating TrainDEEP's success and future sustainability..</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The TrainDEEP model was successfully implemented, receiving positive feedback. This model could be expanded across the local and national DE networks to increase TPs, boosting recruitment and enhancing healthcare provision for underserved communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Family physicians' experiences with an electronic medical record-integrated family history collection strategy: a qualitative study.","authors":"Sakina Walji, Tutsirai Makuwaza, Erin Bearss, Sahana Kukan, Babak Aliarzadeh, Judith Allanson, Michelle Greiver, Eva Grunfeld, Karuna Gupta, Ruth Heisey, Noah Ivers, Doug Kavanagh, Raymond Kim, Michelle Levy, Rahim Moineddin, Shawna Morrison, Maria Muraca, Donatus Mutasingwa, Mary Ann O'Brien, Joanne Permaul, Frank Sullivan, Brenda J Wilson, June C Carroll","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0051","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A complete, up-to-date family history (FH) is imperative in primary care to identify those at increased risk of heritable conditions who may benefit from personalised screening and management. Complete FH is rarely documented in the electronic medical record (EMR).</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To understand family physicians' (FPs') experiences of an EMR-integrated FH strategy.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using one-to-one interviews to assess a FH strategy. Primary care teams, affiliated with University of Toronto Practice-Based Research Network in Ontario, Canada, were randomly selected. The participants were FPs from three sites that implemented the strategy.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Telephone interviews were undertaken with FPs. Thematic analysis was used for identifying, analysing, and reporting patterns in the data. An iterative process was used, with modification of interview and coding guides as new themes emerged.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 14 out of 15 FPs were interviewed. The following six major themes were identified: 1) FH informs hereditary risk and enables tailored patient care; 2) routine, intentional FH collection by patients and FPs is essential; 3) FH collection supports meaningful patient-FP discussions and quality care; 4) point-of-care tools enhance FP awareness and knowledge; 5) success is supported by patient engagement and EMR integration; and 6) tailored approaches are needed to improve acceptability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Physicians expressed the importance of routine FH collection and its implications for clinical management. Factors contributing to the strategy's success included being patient-initiated and medical record integration.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145524559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Hidden Workload Study protocol: a national mixed-methods analysis of general practice workload and local demographics.","authors":"Kirsten Lee, Selma Audi, Thomas Brain, Polly Duncan, Serge Engamba, Tess Harris, Fiona Jones, Jonathan Stewart, Anas Tahir, Jessica Watson, Stephen J Woolford","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0100","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>General practice workload is increasing. Routinely reported NHS data describes workload in relation to numbers of appointments and clinicians delivering appointments. However, 'hidden' aspects of general practice workload, such as administrative and supervisory tasks, are not measured.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The Hidden Workload Study will examine the full range of tasks that general practice clinicians undertake daily and investigate how workload varies according to clinical role and practice demographics. Participants' lived experience of workload will also be explored through interviews.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Utilising the Primary care Academic CollaboraTive's (PACT's) membership and collaborative methodology, mixed quantitative and qualitative methods will be used. All clinicians working in English general practice, including GPs of all grades, resident doctors, nurses, physician associates, pharmacists, and other allied healthcare professionals will be eligible, aiming for >500 participants across >75 practices.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants will collect data on a randomly allocated day in late 2024 or early 2025. Using a data collection form and timers, participants will record their planned work schedule and then all tasks they complete, including all clinical, administrative, and supervisory tasks, and breaks. Practice demographic data will be collected from NHS Fingertips. For the qualitative arm, 15-20 semi-structured qualitative interviews will also be carried out. Quantitative data will be described according to clinical role and practice demographics, and interviews transcribed and reflexively analysed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Hidden Workload Study will provide a comprehensive mixed-methods analysis of contemporary general practice workload. Potential explanations for workload variations will be explored, informing future service provision and workforce planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The work of the consultation in general practice: a comparison of affluent and deprived areas of Scotland using a novel consultation workload index.","authors":"Kieran D Sweeney, Lauren Ng, Stewart W Mercer","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0103","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The workload within GP consultations, and how this varies by deprivation, is not well known.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine how deprivation influences GP consultation workload by developing and applying a novel consultation workload index (CWI).</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional postal survey of patients who had recently consulted a GP in deprived and affluent areas of Scotland.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The CWI was developed using patient-reported data on: (1) whether more than one problem was discussed in the consultation; (2) whether a complex problem (defined as involving both physical and psychosocial issues) was discussed; and (3) the presence of a disability or limiting long-term condition. Results were analysed by area-level deprivation and consultation modality (face-to-face versus telephone consultations).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis included 721 patients. Correlations between the three variables of the CWI were low (rho<0.2), suggesting that each was capturing a distinct aspect of consultation workload. Using the CWI, more than half of all consultations in deprived areas had 'high' (29%) or 'very high' (25%) workload, compared with approximately one-quarter in affluent areas ('high' 20%, 'very high' 6%). This was evident across both face-to-face and telephone consultations.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Greater patient need and complexity in deprived areas is reflected in higher GP workload in the consultation as measured by the CWI. Ways of operationalising the CWI routinely - for example, through real-time artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of consultations - should be explored. If robust, these could be used to inform the resource allocation to general practice to help address the inverse care law.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experiences of dyslexia in GP training in the UK: a qualitative study.","authors":"Suhail Amin Tarafdar, Kalman Winston, Noha Seoudi, Deborah Lowry, Ruoyin Luo","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0121","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental learning difficulty that affects the acquisition of reading and spelling. Dyslexic medical residents can experience difficulties with assessments and workload, although reasonable adjustments are helpful. Nonetheless, there is limited evidence regarding the experiences of dyslexia within family medicine and general practice training.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore experiences of dyslexia in GP training in the UK, and identify adaptive strategies to improve training experiences.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>This was a qualitative study comprising detailed semi-structured, one-to-one interviews. Participants were dyslexic GPs or residents, or educators of dyslexic GP residents, within UK training programmes.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Interviews were conducted online, recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was undertaken of the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 26 participants with five themes identified. Getting support could be protracted, owing to lack of awareness, stigma, and attitudes. Furthermore, there were different challenges faced by dyslexic doctors within hospital medicine and general practice settings. Dyslexia also informed the career progression of dyslexic doctors, including after completion of GP training. Moreover, adaptive strategies could enhance performance in GP training assessments. Likewise, workplace adjustments could improve the experiences of dyslexic doctors in general practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Further training regarding dyslexia is required for GP residents and educators. Programmes should foster a positive, inclusive culture. Adaptive strategies can be employed within primary care to improve experiences. Moreover, creating a toolkit for dyslexia in GP training can be beneficial for residents and educators, with further research also warranted to explore dyslexia among international medical graduates (IMGs).</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145496580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacist-led osteoporosis review: perceptions of current practice, care gaps, and implementation challenges.","authors":"Andrew Sturrock, Meaghan Grabrovaz, Laurna Bullock, Emma M Clark, Tracy L Finch, Shona Haining, Toby Helliwell, Robert Horne, Ian Maidment, Daniel Monk, Claire Pryor, Louise Statham, Zoe Paskins, Corinne Turnbull, Janice McKinley","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0093","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adherence to oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis is poor; the challenges and complexity of follow-up reviews in general practice are implicated as a contributory cause. Clinical pharmacists in general practice are an expanding professional group within the UK NHS workforce and could provide person-centred medicines optimisation interventions.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore clinician and patient perceptions towards a pharmacist-led osteoporosis review, including identifying current practice, care gaps, and implementation barriers and facilitators.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Qualitative interview study with patients, clinical pharmacists, GPs, osteoporosis specialists, and service commissioners.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically, informed by a normalisation process theory approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 32 participants were interviewed in 22 one-to-one interviews and four small group interviews. Three themes relevant to the design and implementation of a pharmacist-led osteoporosis follow-up review were identified: dissonant views among patients and healthcare professionals about current provision and needs; pharmacists' suitability for, and role in, osteoporosis care and training needs; and contextual issues affecting implementation of a new pharmacist-led osteoporosis review.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study found that current practice with respect to following-up patients initiated on oral bisphosphonate treatment in primary care is variable. Although pharmacists were highlighted as well-placed to conduct osteoporosis reviews, varying views about the need for this were highlighted along with a number of contextual barriers, including lack of financial and policy drivers in primary care, workload challenges, varying pharmacist skills and autonomy, and lack of coordination across the health system.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145524572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}