Role of community pharmacists in the use of antipsychotics for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD): a qualitative study

Ian D. Maidment; Lydia Aston; Andrea Hilton; Naveed Iqbal; Anne Child; Rachel Shaw

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010278

Role of community pharmacists in the use of antipsychotics for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD): a qualitative study

Ian D. Maidment^*, Lydia Aston, Andrea Hilton, Naveed Iqbal, Anne Child, Rachel Shaw

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use qualitative methodology to understand the current role of community pharmacists in limiting the use of antipsychotics prescribed inappropriately for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

DESIGN: A qualitative study employing focus groups was conducted. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

SETTING: 3 different geographical locations in the England.

PARTICIPANTS: Community pharmacists (n=22).

RESULTS: The focus groups identified an array of factors and constraints, which affect the ability of community pharmacists to contribute to initiatives to limit the use of antipsychotics. 3 key themes were revealed: (1) politics and the medical hierarchy, which created communication barriers; (2) how resources and remit impact the effectiveness of community pharmacy; and (3) understanding the nature of the treatment of dementia.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that an improvement in communication between community pharmacists and healthcare professionals, especially general practitioners (GPs) must occur in order for community pharmacists to assist in limiting the use of antipsychotics in people with dementia. Additionally, extra training in working with people with dementia is required. Thus, an intervention which involves appropriately trained pharmacists working in collaboration with GPs and other caregivers is required. Overall, within the current environment, community pharmacists question the extent to which they can contribute in helping to reduce the prescription of antipsychotics.

Original language	English
Article number	e010278
Journal	BMJ Open
Volume	6
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010278
Publication status	Published - 16 Mar 2016

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This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010278Licence: CC BY-NC 3.0

Antipsychotics for antipsychotics for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia BPSD
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Final published version, 576 KBLicence: CC BY-NC 3.0

http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/3/e010278Licence: CC BY-NC 3.0

Cite this

@article{07e7b77765bd4140b8778ac8fb95c7ed,

title = "Role of community pharmacists in the use of antipsychotics for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD): a qualitative study",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use qualitative methodology to understand the current role of community pharmacists in limiting the use of antipsychotics prescribed inappropriately for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.DESIGN: A qualitative study employing focus groups was conducted. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.SETTING: 3 different geographical locations in the England.PARTICIPANTS: Community pharmacists (n=22).RESULTS: The focus groups identified an array of factors and constraints, which affect the ability of community pharmacists to contribute to initiatives to limit the use of antipsychotics. 3 key themes were revealed: (1) politics and the medical hierarchy, which created communication barriers; (2) how resources and remit impact the effectiveness of community pharmacy; and (3) understanding the nature of the treatment of dementia.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that an improvement in communication between community pharmacists and healthcare professionals, especially general practitioners (GPs) must occur in order for community pharmacists to assist in limiting the use of antipsychotics in people with dementia. Additionally, extra training in working with people with dementia is required. Thus, an intervention which involves appropriately trained pharmacists working in collaboration with GPs and other caregivers is required. Overall, within the current environment, community pharmacists question the extent to which they can contribute in helping to reduce the prescription of antipsychotics.",

author = "Maidment, {Ian D.} and Lydia Aston and Andrea Hilton and Naveed Iqbal and Anne Child and Rachel Shaw",

note = "This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",

year = "2016",

month = mar,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010278",

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AU - Maidment, Ian D.

AU - Aston, Lydia

AU - Hilton, Andrea

AU - Iqbal, Naveed

AU - Child, Anne

AU - Shaw, Rachel

N1 - This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

PY - 2016/3/16

Y1 - 2016/3/16

N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use qualitative methodology to understand the current role of community pharmacists in limiting the use of antipsychotics prescribed inappropriately for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.DESIGN: A qualitative study employing focus groups was conducted. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.SETTING: 3 different geographical locations in the England.PARTICIPANTS: Community pharmacists (n=22).RESULTS: The focus groups identified an array of factors and constraints, which affect the ability of community pharmacists to contribute to initiatives to limit the use of antipsychotics. 3 key themes were revealed: (1) politics and the medical hierarchy, which created communication barriers; (2) how resources and remit impact the effectiveness of community pharmacy; and (3) understanding the nature of the treatment of dementia.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that an improvement in communication between community pharmacists and healthcare professionals, especially general practitioners (GPs) must occur in order for community pharmacists to assist in limiting the use of antipsychotics in people with dementia. Additionally, extra training in working with people with dementia is required. Thus, an intervention which involves appropriately trained pharmacists working in collaboration with GPs and other caregivers is required. Overall, within the current environment, community pharmacists question the extent to which they can contribute in helping to reduce the prescription of antipsychotics.

AB - OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use qualitative methodology to understand the current role of community pharmacists in limiting the use of antipsychotics prescribed inappropriately for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.DESIGN: A qualitative study employing focus groups was conducted. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.SETTING: 3 different geographical locations in the England.PARTICIPANTS: Community pharmacists (n=22).RESULTS: The focus groups identified an array of factors and constraints, which affect the ability of community pharmacists to contribute to initiatives to limit the use of antipsychotics. 3 key themes were revealed: (1) politics and the medical hierarchy, which created communication barriers; (2) how resources and remit impact the effectiveness of community pharmacy; and (3) understanding the nature of the treatment of dementia.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that an improvement in communication between community pharmacists and healthcare professionals, especially general practitioners (GPs) must occur in order for community pharmacists to assist in limiting the use of antipsychotics in people with dementia. Additionally, extra training in working with people with dementia is required. Thus, an intervention which involves appropriately trained pharmacists working in collaboration with GPs and other caregivers is required. Overall, within the current environment, community pharmacists question the extent to which they can contribute in helping to reduce the prescription of antipsychotics.

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Role of community pharmacists in the use of antipsychotics for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD): a qualitative study

Abstract

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