Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41557681›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Barriers and facilitators to implementation research on pharmacist-led medication reviews in memory clinics: A qualitative study using the TDF-COM-B.

Rishabh Sharma, Yusra Aslam, Sadaf Faisal, Carrie McAiney, Feng Chang, Cheryl A Sadowski, Linda Lee, Manonita Roy, Bincy Baby, Muhammad Mamdani and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Rishabh SharmaSchool of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 10 Victoria St S A, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
Yusra AslamSchool of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 10 Victoria St S A, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
Sadaf FaisalSchool of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 10 Victoria St S A, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
Carrie McAineySchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Feng ChangSchool of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 10 Victoria St S A, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4661-6911
Cheryl A SadowskiFaculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4526-7054
Linda LeeSchlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, 250 Laurelwood Dr, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Manonita RoyDivision of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Bincy BabySchool of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 10 Victoria St S A, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
Muhammad MamdaniInstitute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Tejal PatelSchool of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 10 Victoria St S A, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3002-8306

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImproving medication use is important in patients with cognitive impairment and dementia. In memory clinics within primary-care settings, pharmacists perform structured medication reviews targeting medication-related problems in this population. The impact of pharmacist-led medication reviews in such clinics has not been examined previously. However, implementing research in clinical environments is fraught with challenges. Thus, this research focuses on identifying barriers and facilitators that would impact the implementation of research projects examining medication reviews in primary-care based memory clinics.

methodsWe conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions with pharmacists, physicians, care partners, and other healthcare professionals. Semi-structured guides informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) were used to facilitate discussions. Using the TDF-COM-B (Capabilities-Opportunities-Motivation-Behaviour) approach, we identified and analyzed barriers and facilitators to implementing research on pharmacist-led medication reviews and generated potential intervention strategies.

resultsEighteen stakeholders across three focus groups identified several key barriers, including communication gaps, unclear interdisciplinary roles, participant burden, and limited resources across multiple TDF domains. Facilitators included the perceived impact of medication reviews (beliefs about consequences), patient involvement in research (decision processes), study procedural knowledge (knowledge), pharmacist recognition (social/professional role and identity), and standardized medication reviews (skills). Implementation strategies included providing standardized training, simplifying study procedures with digital tools and templates, involving study coordinators, and engaging patients and care partners in decision-making. Barriers such as communication gaps, unclear interdisciplinary roles, participant burden, and resource constraints were addressed through workflow redesign, financial incentives, and fostering collaboration and institutional support.

conclusionThis study identified key barriers and facilitators to implementing research on pharmacist-led medication reviews in memory clinics, highlighting several areas with direct policy relevance. These findings point to important policy needs, including clearer interdisciplinary roles, improved communication, adequate resource support, and standardized training to enhance the feasibility and sustainability of pharmacist-led medication review interventions, ultimately supporting successful research implementation and improving medication use in older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia.

Indexed as

PharmacistsDementiaFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMalePrimary Health CareQualitative Research

Identifiers

PMID41557681
PMCPMC12818622

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.