A qualitative study to investigate community pharmacists' perceptions about identifying and addressing inappropriately prescribed analgesia

Objectives Inappropriate prescribing, particularly for analgesia, is a recognised global problem. This leads to increased morbidity and mortality and presents a significant challenge for patients and the healthcare system. There is a need to identify strategies that best identify inappropriately prescribed analgesia (IPA). This study aims to explore the perspectives and experiences of community pharmacists (CPs) about addressing IPA.Methods Semi-structured interviews informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel model and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) were conducted with consenting community pharmacists. Transcripts were coded using a capability, opportunity, motivation model of behaviour (COM-B) model. The COM-B components were mapped to the TDF and behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were identified to address these.Key findings A total of 12 pharmacists who work in community pharmacies in England were interviewed between March and May 2021. COM-B components were identified through analysis and mapped to nine TDF domains. Component 1 referred to 'Capability' of CPs to be involved in addressing IPA (knowledge). Component 2 pertained to 'Opportunity' to identify IPA (e.g. social influence). The 'Motivation' component linked to five TDF domains (e.g. goals). Seventeen BCTs were identified to support CPs in addressing IPA (e.g. environmental context and resources domain mapped to 2 BCTs 'restructuring the physical and social environment').Conclusions CPs expressed mixed perceptions about their involvement in the deprescribing of IPA as part of their daily practice, but they stated that social and environmental barriers needed to be addressed to facilitate their involvement. The identified BCTs provide evidence-based strategies to help the involvement of CPs to identify IPA.