Medicines optimisation in visually impaired patients

Pharmacists’ interviews investigated the barriers/facilitators to the provision of medication dispensing and counselling while patients’/caregivers’ interviews explored the barriers/facilitators to obtaining and taking medications. Key TDF domains were identified from both sets of interviews. The planned intervention targeted the pharmacists’ behaviour, and the key TDF domains from pharmacists’ interviews were mapped to behaviour change techniques (BCTs).

Finally, BCTs were operationalised into a workable intervention which was then tested in a small feasibility study.<br><br>Results<br>The systematic review highlighted the paucity of pharmacist-led interventions. Findings from pharmacists’ interviews led to the identification of eight key TDF domains which were linked to eight BCTs. Interviews with patients/caregivers identified six key TDF domains.

The eight BCTs formed the IDC-VI. Feasibility testing demonstrated favourable opinions from pharmacists and patients/caregivers but a number of modifications were suggested. <br><br>Discussion and conclusion<br>This thesis provides theory-informed insights into the determinants of patients’, caregivers’, and pharmacists’ behaviours. The IDC-VI will require a number of amendments before being tested in a larger pilot trial in preparation for a randomised controlled trial.<br>