Knee osteoarthritis and the knowledgeable, trustworthy pharmacist: Patient and pharmacist perceptions of community pharmacy-based education and support

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) clinical guidelines recommend self-management education, but education is often not included in primary care consultations. Objective: To explore pharmacists' and patients' perceptions of a pharmacist-led model of service delivery for knee OA that was integrated within pharmacies' day-to-day workflow. Methods: Cross-sectional qualitative design using Thematic Analysis. Community pharmacies were recruited in New Zealand and Australia. Pharmacy patients were screened for knee OA and offered tailored explanations, self-management information and referral for further support. Pharmacist focus groups and patient 1:1 interviews explored perceptions of the service delivery model. Results: Nineteen pharmacists and 12 patients with knee OA participated. Pharmacist and patient data were analysed separately, with themes compared and contrasted to derive three meta-themes. Meta-theme 1: 'Welcome Engagement' included two pharmacist themes ('putting my broad skill set to use' and 'we're here and happy to help') and two patient themes (information delivered well' and 'a welcome offer of help'). Meta-theme 2: The Knowledgeable and Trustworthy Pharmacist' included two pharmacist themes ('professional knowledge to help all sorts of patients' and 'managing time to help my patients') and one patient theme ('the accessible professional who I know and trust'). Meta-theme 3: 'The Opportunity for More Support' included one pharmacist theme ('this is not the end of the story') and one patient theme ('more help is available'). Conclusion: Community pharmacists are well-positioned to provide information and support to people with knee OA. Pharmacists appreciate the opportunity to better use their skills and accessibility for OA care, and patients welcome this engagement.