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Introduction <p>Late-life depression (LLD) (depression occurring in individuals aged ≥ 65&#xa0;years) often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated. Pharmacists who conduct medication reviews may play a significant role in LLD screening.</p> Aim <p>This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perspectives regarding the role of pharmacists in LLD screening for older adults during medication reviews.</p> Method <p>A semi-structured interview guide was developed, guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). HCPs across Australia were recruited via purposive sampling through professional organisations’ social media and e-newsletters distributed by primary health networks, and via convenience sampling through departmental meetings and emails at Royal North Shore Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. The interviews explored HCPs’ acceptability and perspectives regarding the role of pharmacists in LLD screening. Key themes and subthemes were identified using inductive thematic analysis. Each subtheme was then deductively mapped to the TFA constructs.</p> Results <p>Twenty-eight HCPs participated in the interviews, including 10 credentialed pharmacists (35.7%), nine hospital pharmacists (32.1%), five geriatricians (17.9%) and four general practitioners (14.3%). Most participants were female (n = 22; 78.6%) and practising in New South Wales, Australia (n = 17; 60.7%). The duration of interviews ranged from 21 to 55&#xa0;min (M = 33&#xa0;min, SD = 9&#xa0;min). Five key themes were identified, including Considerations for service delivery, Patients’ homes as screening setting, Resource requirements, Timely follow-up, and Benefits of screening. These themes were further divided into eight subthemes. HCPs&#xa0;generally viewed&#xa0;pharmacist-delivered&#xa0;LLD screening as acceptable, provided certain factors were addressed prior to implementation. Facilitators such as increased patient comfort in their homes and the importance of mental health training were noted; however, barriers such as time constraints, lack of remuneration for additional services and the difficulties of timely follow-up may impede the provision of such services.</p> Conclusion <p>HCPs were generally accepting of pharmacist-delivered LLD screening during medication reviews, and perceived pharmacists to have a role in such services. Recommendations for future implementation include targeted mental health training for credentialed pharmacists, appropriate remuneration, and timely follow-up pathways for at-risk patients.</p>

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A qualitative exploration of healthcare professionals’ perspectives on the role of pharmacists in screening older adults for depression during medication reviews

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月18日

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  • Duha N. Gide,
  • Sarira El-Den,
  • Lisa Kouladjian O’Donnell,
  • Claire L. O’Reilly

摘要

Introduction

Late-life depression (LLD) (depression occurring in individuals aged ≥ 65 years) often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated. Pharmacists who conduct medication reviews may play a significant role in LLD screening.

Aim

This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perspectives regarding the role of pharmacists in LLD screening for older adults during medication reviews.

Method

A semi-structured interview guide was developed, guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). HCPs across Australia were recruited via purposive sampling through professional organisations’ social media and e-newsletters distributed by primary health networks, and via convenience sampling through departmental meetings and emails at Royal North Shore Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. The interviews explored HCPs’ acceptability and perspectives regarding the role of pharmacists in LLD screening. Key themes and subthemes were identified using inductive thematic analysis. Each subtheme was then deductively mapped to the TFA constructs.

Results

Twenty-eight HCPs participated in the interviews, including 10 credentialed pharmacists (35.7%), nine hospital pharmacists (32.1%), five geriatricians (17.9%) and four general practitioners (14.3%). Most participants were female (n = 22; 78.6%) and practising in New South Wales, Australia (n = 17; 60.7%). The duration of interviews ranged from 21 to 55 min (M = 33 min, SD = 9 min). Five key themes were identified, including Considerations for service delivery, Patients’ homes as screening setting, Resource requirements, Timely follow-up, and Benefits of screening. These themes were further divided into eight subthemes. HCPs generally viewed pharmacist-delivered LLD screening as acceptable, provided certain factors were addressed prior to implementation. Facilitators such as increased patient comfort in their homes and the importance of mental health training were noted; however, barriers such as time constraints, lack of remuneration for additional services and the difficulties of timely follow-up may impede the provision of such services.

Conclusion

HCPs were generally accepting of pharmacist-delivered LLD screening during medication reviews, and perceived pharmacists to have a role in such services. Recommendations for future implementation include targeted mental health training for credentialed pharmacists, appropriate remuneration, and timely follow-up pathways for at-risk patients.