Barriers and facilitators to implementing polypharmacy management frameworks: a theory based qualitative exploration of key stakeholders

Background: Inappropriate polypharmacy arises through many factors including deficiencies in prescribing processes. Most research has focused on solutions at the clinician/patient levels with less at the organisational level.

Aim: To explore key stakeholder identified barriers and facilitators to implementation of an organisational level polypharmacy management framework.

Method: Qualitative data were collected within the Ministry of Health in Oman. Key stakeholders were purposively sampled encompassing senior representatives of pharmacy, medicine, and nursing directors; healthcare policymakers; patient safety leaders; and academic leaders. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed informed by a recent scoping review and underpinned by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Interviews, which continued until data saturation, were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using the Framework Approach.

Results: Thirteen key stakeholders were interviewed, with representation of each target group. Facilitators largely mapped to the CFIR domain of inner setting (i.e., aspects of stakeholder awareness, the electronic health system and national leadership), intervention characteristic (evidence gaps), characteristics of individuals (stakeholders and champions) and process (change strategy). Barriers also largely mapped to the inner setting (policy absence, communication and health professional practice) and outer setting (resource needs).

Conclusion: This study has illuminated the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of an organisational level polypharmacy management framework. Further work is required to translate these themes into an actionable plan to implement the framework. Particular attention is required for aspects of the CFIR domain of inner setting (i.e., the internal context within which implementation occurs) as most barriers mapped to this domain.