Community pharmacists' perceptions on their role in counseling patients on lifestyle modifications.

Background: Patients need an accessible health care provider who can assist in lifestyle counseling for chronic disease states. Pharmacists are easily accessible in the community, as a recent study found that nearly 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a community pharmacy. Thus, pharmacists are ideally positioned to offer counseling on lifestyle modifications at this health care access point.

Objectives: The study's primary objective was to identify common barriers that community pharmacists may face in regard to provision of lifestyle counseling. Secondary objectives included determining strategies to overcome barriers and examining community pharmacists' willingness and level of comfort in providing lifestyle counseling to their patients.

Methods: The study used mixed methods where pharmacists completed a survey and opted into a semi-structured interview. Survey results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and a paired t test. Interviews were recorded and transcribed in April and May 2022 until saturation. Three investigators coded each interview and conducted thematic analysis. Study design and procedures were approved by an institutional review board in December 2021.

Results: One hundred forty-one pharmacists completed the survey to yield a 53.2% response rate. A paired t test revealed a statistically significant difference between level of comfort and willingness to counsel (P < 0.001). Willingness to provide lifestyle counseling was higher than the level of comfort in counseling in all areas (alcohol moderation, exercise, nutrition, tobacco cessation, and weight loss). Thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed 5 dominant themes: increasing patient awareness, counseling due to a patient inquiry, increasing educational materials, aligning corporate measures, and counseling patients with an established relationship.

Conclusion: Community pharmacists are willing to counsel on lifestyle modifications, however there is a gap between their willingness and comfort in counseling. The top 3 barriers to community pharmacists counseling on lifestyle modifications included time, workflow, and patient willingness. Further studies should explore strategies for implementing lifestyle counseling.