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BMC Health Services Research

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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Barriers and facilitators of pharmacists’ integration in a multidisciplinary home care team: a qualitative interview study based on the normalization process theory

Authors: Karl-Erik Bø, Kjell H. Halvorsen, Anna Yen-Ngoc Le, Elin C. Lehnbom

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

There is a growing recognition of multidisciplinary practices as the most rational approach to providing better and more efficient healthcare services. Pharmacists are increasingly integrated into primary care teams, but there is no universal approach to implementing pharmacist services across healthcare settings. In Norway, most pharmacists work in pharmacies, with very few employed outside this traditional setting. The home care workforce is primarily made up of nurses, assistant nurses, and healthcare assistants. General practitioners (GPs) are not based in the same location as home care staff. This study utilized the Normalization Process Theory (NPT) to conduct a process evaluation of the integration of pharmacists in a Norwegian home care setting. Our aim was to identify barriers and facilitators to optimal utilization of pharmacist services within a multidisciplinary team.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews (n = 9) were conducted with home care unit leaders, ward managers, registered nurses, and pharmacists in Norway, in November 2022-February 2023. Constructs from the NPT were applied to qualitative data.

Results

Findings from this study pertain to the four constructs of the NPT. Healthcare professionals struggled to conceptualize the pharmacists’ competencies and there were no collectively agreed-upon objectives of the intervention. Consequently, some participants questioned the necessity of pharmacist integration. Further, participants reported conflicting preferences regarding how to best utilize medication-optimizing services in everyday work. A lack of stakeholder empowerment was reported across all participants. Moreover, home care unit leaders and managers reported being uninformed of their roles and responsibilities related to the implementation process. However, the presence of pharmacists and their services were well received in the setting. Moreover, participants reported that pharmacists’ contributions positively impacted the multidisciplinary practice.

Conclusion

Introducing new work methods into clinical practice is a complex task that demands expertise in implementation. Using the NTP model helped pinpoint factors that affect how pharmacists’ skills are utilized in a home care setting. Insights from this study can inform the development of tailored implementation strategies to improve pharmacist integration in a multidisciplinary team.

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Title: Barriers and facilitators of pharmacists’ integration in a multidisciplinary home care team: a qualitative interview study based on the normalization process theory
Authors: Karl-Erik Bø
Kjell H. Halvorsen
Anna Yen-Ngoc Le
Elin C. Lehnbom
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11014-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Barriers and facilitators of pharmacists’ integration in a multidisciplinary home care team: a qualitative interview study based on the normalization process theory

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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