Exploring the Role of Community Pharmacy in the Management of Osteoarthritis: Surveys and Interviews With People With Osteoarthritis
Authors' conclusion
Current community pharmacy care for people with OA could be extended and include a greater focus on supported self-care.
Study context
- Population
- People with osteoarthritis (OA) recruited through general practices in two geographic areas of the UK450 survey responses
- Outcome
- Experiences of and views on community pharmacy OA care
Methodological detailssurveys and qualitative interviews, descriptive statistical analysis, reflexive thematic analysis, Theoretical Domains Framework
- Surveys and qualitative interviews
- Descriptive statistical analysis
- Reflexive thematic analysis
- Theoretical Domains Framework
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Current community pharmacy OA care focused on advice about medicine and sometimes included self-care advice
- Support for an extended role focused on explaining the joint problem and its treatment, medicine optimization, and support for self-care (including exercise and weight management)
- Uncertainty about whether community pharmacists should diagnose OA
- Key facilitator: pharmacy staff training; barriers: high workloads and limited access to medical records
Original publication
Exploring the Role of Community Pharmacy in the Management of Osteoarthritis: Surveys and Interviews With People With Osteoarthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 17 August 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →