Exploring the pharmacist's role in regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant care: Perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipients

Background: Role clarification amongst health professionals is necessary for successful interprofessional collaboration. Despite a demonstrated need for pharmacists in the provision of care to regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant recipients, this role is not well defined. Objectives: This s...

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Main Authors: Tara K. Watters, Nicole J. Scholes-Robertson, Andrew J. Mallett, Beverley D. Glass
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276625000289
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author Tara K. Watters
Nicole J. Scholes-Robertson
Andrew J. Mallett
Beverley D. Glass
author_facet Tara K. Watters
Nicole J. Scholes-Robertson
Andrew J. Mallett
Beverley D. Glass
author_sort Tara K. Watters
collection DOAJ
description Background: Role clarification amongst health professionals is necessary for successful interprofessional collaboration. Despite a demonstrated need for pharmacists in the provision of care to regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant recipients, this role is not well defined. Objectives: This study explored health professionals' and kidney transplant recipients' perceptions around the role of the pharmacist in the provision of care to kidney transplant recipients from regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia. Methods: Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with Australian kidney transplant health professionals and kidney transplant recipients respectively. Transcripts were analysed thematically and deductively coded using a simplified framework of role theory constructs. Results: Participants consisted of a multidisciplinary cross section of transplant health professionals (n = 26) and both deceased and living donor kidney transplant recipients (n = 30). Six role theory constructs were identified from the data with regards to the pharmacist's role: role identity, role ambiguity, role overload, role overqualification, role underqualification, and role insufficiency. Core role expectations centred around provision of ongoing education and support with medication management and supply (role identity), however pharmacists remain underutilised for delivery of medication education (role overqualification). A transdisciplinary model of care was suggested to overcome current shortfalls (role overload, role insufficiency). There was hesitancy around pharmacist-led immunosuppressant monitoring and titration (role ambiguity, role underqualification). Conclusions: Kidney transplant recipients in regional, rural, and remote areas experience unique barriers and challenges associated with medication management, necessitating an increased level of involvement and support from the pharmacist.
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spelling doaj-art-8057a2d7510a4d52bd33bc936816855c2025-08-20T02:31:56ZengElsevierExploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy2667-27662025-06-011810058710.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100587Exploring the pharmacist's role in regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant care: Perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipientsTara K. Watters0Nicole J. Scholes-Robertson1Andrew J. Mallett2Beverley D. Glass3College of Medicine & Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Department of Renal Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, QLD, Australia; Corresponding author at: Department of Renal Medicine, Cairns Hospital, PO Box 902, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia.Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaCollege of Medicine & Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Department of Renal Medicine, Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaCollege of Medicine & Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, AustraliaBackground: Role clarification amongst health professionals is necessary for successful interprofessional collaboration. Despite a demonstrated need for pharmacists in the provision of care to regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant recipients, this role is not well defined. Objectives: This study explored health professionals' and kidney transplant recipients' perceptions around the role of the pharmacist in the provision of care to kidney transplant recipients from regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia. Methods: Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with Australian kidney transplant health professionals and kidney transplant recipients respectively. Transcripts were analysed thematically and deductively coded using a simplified framework of role theory constructs. Results: Participants consisted of a multidisciplinary cross section of transplant health professionals (n = 26) and both deceased and living donor kidney transplant recipients (n = 30). Six role theory constructs were identified from the data with regards to the pharmacist's role: role identity, role ambiguity, role overload, role overqualification, role underqualification, and role insufficiency. Core role expectations centred around provision of ongoing education and support with medication management and supply (role identity), however pharmacists remain underutilised for delivery of medication education (role overqualification). A transdisciplinary model of care was suggested to overcome current shortfalls (role overload, role insufficiency). There was hesitancy around pharmacist-led immunosuppressant monitoring and titration (role ambiguity, role underqualification). Conclusions: Kidney transplant recipients in regional, rural, and remote areas experience unique barriers and challenges associated with medication management, necessitating an increased level of involvement and support from the pharmacist.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276625000289PharmacistRole clarityRole theoryRural and remote healthKidney transplantHealth equity
spellingShingle Tara K. Watters
Nicole J. Scholes-Robertson
Andrew J. Mallett
Beverley D. Glass
Exploring the pharmacist's role in regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant care: Perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipients
Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy
Pharmacist
Role clarity
Role theory
Rural and remote health
Kidney transplant
Health equity
title Exploring the pharmacist's role in regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant care: Perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipients
title_full Exploring the pharmacist's role in regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant care: Perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipients
title_fullStr Exploring the pharmacist's role in regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant care: Perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipients
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the pharmacist's role in regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant care: Perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipients
title_short Exploring the pharmacist's role in regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant care: Perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipients
title_sort exploring the pharmacist s role in regional rural and remote kidney transplant care perspectives of health professionals and transplant recipients
topic Pharmacist
Role clarity
Role theory
Rural and remote health
Kidney transplant
Health equity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276625000289
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