ArticlePloS one2025
The role of community pharmacists in medicines optimisation for housebound people: A scoping review.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Tackling NHS winter pressures due to respiratory disease: the UK Centre for Applied Respiratory Research Innovation and Impact (CARRii).NPJ primary care respiratory medicine · 2026Review
- The role of community pharmacists in medicines optimisation for housebound people: A scoping review.PloS one · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAn increasingly ageing population presents many challenges for healthcare systems, including how to support older adults who are more likely to be both housebound and have complex medication needs. Community pharmacists may play a key role in medicines optimisation for this vulnerable population, however, the extent of literature exploring this topic is unclear.
objectiveTo map existing literature on the role of community pharmacists in medicines optimisation for housebound older adults in the United Kingdom (UK).
methodsA scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Peer-reviewed primary research and grey literature published since 2000 were searched using relevant databases and websites. Data was charted using a standardised form based on TIDieR guidelines and EPOC taxonomies. A narrative synthesis was conducted to summarise and interpret the findings from included studies.
resultsSeven sources were included in the review - five peer-reviewed articles and two grey literature reports. Interventions consisted of domiciliary medication reviews conducted by pharmacists. Key medicines optimisation strategies addressed were medication review, deprescribing, addressing polypharmacy and facilitating communication between providers. Reported outcomes included identification of widespread issues with polypharmacy and medication-related problems, reduced hospital admissions, cost savings and improved patient care. Gaps identified were limited generalisability, lack of comparisons to standard care, and under-representation of minority groups.
conclusionsThe literature indicates promise for the role of community pharmacists in medicines optimisation for housebound older adults through domiciliary services. However, more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of pharmacist-led interventions in this setting. Addressing identified gaps will help inform pharmacists' roles in supporting medication needs of housebound patients.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.