Barriers and Facilitators Influencing Real-time and Digital-Based Reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions by Community Pharmacists: Qualitative Study Using the Task-Technology Fit Framework

BACKGROUND: Medication use can result in adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that cause increased morbidity and health care consumption for patients and could potentially be fatal. Timely reporting of ADRs to regulators may contribute to patient safety by facilitating information gathering on drug safety data. Currently, little is known about how community pharmacists (CPs) monitor, handle, and report ADRs in Australia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify perceived barriers to and facilitators of ADR reporting by CPs in Australia and suggest digital interventions. METHODS: A qualitative study with individual interviews was conducted with CPs working across Victoria, Australia, between April 2022 and May 2022. A semistructured interview guide was used to identify perceived barriers to and facilitators of ADR reporting among CPs. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. We constructed themes from the CP-reported barriers and facilitators. The themes were subsequently aligned with the Task-Technology Fit framework. RESULTS: A total of 12 CPs were interviewed. Identified barriers were lack of knowledge of both the ADR reporting process and ADR reporting systems, time constraints, lack of financial incentives, lack of organizational support for ADR reporting, inadequate IT systems, and preference to refer consumers to physicians. The proposed facilitators of ADR reporting included enhancing CPs knowledge and awareness of ADRs, financial incentives for ADR reporting, workflow-integrated ADR reporting technology systems, feedback provision to CPs on the reported ADRs, and promoting consumer ADR reporting. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to and facilitators of ADR reporting spanned both the task and technology aspects of the Task-Technology Fit model. Addressing the identified barriers to ADR reporting and providing workplace technologies that support ADR reporting may improve ADR reporting by CPs. Further investigations to observe ADR handling and reporting within community pharmacies can enhance patient safety by increasing ADR reporting by CPs.