Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities

Abstract Background There has been limited progress in research on reasonable accommodations for persons with mild/moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) who are able to live independently but have struggles. This study aims to qualitatively investigate how pharmacists provide reasonable accommodat...

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Main Authors: Masaki Shoji, Rintaro Imafuku, Mei Mizomoto, Mitsuko Onda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13035-7
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author Masaki Shoji
Rintaro Imafuku
Mei Mizomoto
Mitsuko Onda
author_facet Masaki Shoji
Rintaro Imafuku
Mei Mizomoto
Mitsuko Onda
author_sort Masaki Shoji
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background There has been limited progress in research on reasonable accommodations for persons with mild/moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) who are able to live independently but have struggles. This study aims to qualitatively investigate how pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations when communicating with people with ID. Methods Between October 2023 and March 2024, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 hospital or community pharmacists. They were mainly asked about how they have dealt with people with ID. Interviews were conducted either in person or online, each lasting 30–60 min. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results This study identified three main themes regarding the pharmacists’ reasonable accommodation practices: “comprehension aids,” “reminders,” and “structural accommodations.” Specifically, to help the individuals better understand, pharmacists tried to use simple expressions and visual information, including pictures and symbols, and to adjust their speaking speed and volume. As reminder strategies, they provided supplementary handwritten information, highlighted the main points, and use of post-its. Furthermore, they illustrated the medication sequence as a structural accommodation strategy. Conclusions The study suggests that pharmacists have employed several strategies to offer reasonable accommodations, aiming to build and maintain better relationships with people with ID and to promote these individuals’ understanding of medications, adherence, and treatment safety.
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spelling doaj-art-4e3585de5f0045c9b23de20965f08c572025-08-20T03:37:29ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-07-012511810.1186/s12913-025-13035-7Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilitiesMasaki Shoji0Rintaro Imafuku1Mei Mizomoto2Mitsuko Onda3Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical UniversityNursing Research Promotion Center, Graduate School of Nursing, Nagoya City UniversitySHINTANI Clinic of Psychosomatic MedicineDepartment of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical UniversityAbstract Background There has been limited progress in research on reasonable accommodations for persons with mild/moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) who are able to live independently but have struggles. This study aims to qualitatively investigate how pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations when communicating with people with ID. Methods Between October 2023 and March 2024, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 hospital or community pharmacists. They were mainly asked about how they have dealt with people with ID. Interviews were conducted either in person or online, each lasting 30–60 min. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results This study identified three main themes regarding the pharmacists’ reasonable accommodation practices: “comprehension aids,” “reminders,” and “structural accommodations.” Specifically, to help the individuals better understand, pharmacists tried to use simple expressions and visual information, including pictures and symbols, and to adjust their speaking speed and volume. As reminder strategies, they provided supplementary handwritten information, highlighted the main points, and use of post-its. Furthermore, they illustrated the medication sequence as a structural accommodation strategy. Conclusions The study suggests that pharmacists have employed several strategies to offer reasonable accommodations, aiming to build and maintain better relationships with people with ID and to promote these individuals’ understanding of medications, adherence, and treatment safety.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13035-7Intellectual disabilityPharmacistCommunicationReasonable accommodation
spellingShingle Masaki Shoji
Rintaro Imafuku
Mei Mizomoto
Mitsuko Onda
Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities
BMC Health Services Research
Intellectual disability
Pharmacist
Communication
Reasonable accommodation
title Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities
title_full Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities
title_fullStr Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities
title_full_unstemmed Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities
title_short Exploring how Japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities
title_sort exploring how japanese pharmacists provide reasonable accommodations for persons with intellectual disabilities
topic Intellectual disability
Pharmacist
Communication
Reasonable accommodation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13035-7
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