Pharmacists' experiences of using a QPL to improve patient activation during dispensing of medicines: Presenter(s): Karin Svensberg, Uppsala University, Sweden

Pharmacists often control patient encounters in community pharmacies. Surprisingly, few interventions have focused on activating patients. In community pharmacies, no previous study has used a question prompt list (QPL) during dispensing of medications. It is essential to understand how pharmacists value the QPL in their workflow for a successful implementation. Therefore, this study investigates the experience of community pharmacists using a QPL to activate patients' participation during dispensing of prescribed medications. In 2021, an explorative, qualitative study was carried out. We developed a QPL for community pharmacies based on previous literature. The QPL was placed on the counter and used for about a week by the pharmacists. At the end of the study period, semi-structured interviews were held with pharmacists. An analysis inspired by Systematic Text Condensation was done. Twenty-nine pharmacists from seven community pharmacies in Sweden participated. Two themes were identified: 1) Making medication communication visible and 2) Making the visible (QPL) invisible. The pharmacists perceived patients as more active in the meeting when using the QPL. They described the QPL as empowering for the patients, as they took the initiative to ask questions or bring up topics for discussion more easily. Further, more patients asked questions with the QPL compared to standard care. Together with the patients, the pharmacists thought they found new openings to discuss patients' medication use. In addition, sensitive topics were easier to bring up, such as alcohol, interactions, and side effects. No previous research has examined a QPL in community pharmacy. The QPL can be an easy, cheap and quick way to improve communication during dispensing in community pharmacies. Participating pharmacists perceived that using a QPL improved patient participation and increased patients' question-asking behavior in the encounter.