The perceived role of community pharmacists in pain management and analgesic adherence in older adults: A cross-sectional study

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Context Pain in older adults is often inadequately managed. Community pharmacists are widely accessible, yet their perceived role in geriatric pain management remains underexplored. Objectives To examine community pharmacists' perceived role in pain management and analgesic adherence among older adults, and to assess associations with pain intensity and health-related quality of life. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 100 adults aged ≥65 years (mean age 76.2 years; 50% female) was conducted in Greece between October–December 2024. Recruitment took place in three municipal Open Care Centres for the Elderly (KAPI), one community pharmacy, and through an online channel. Participants completed the Greek versions of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, SF-12 Health Survey, and Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire, alongside a custom Pharmacist-Role Scale whose two-factor structure was examined using confirmatory factor analysis, providing preliminary support (CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.078, SRMR = 0.053). Spearman correlations, group comparisons with Bonferroni correction, and stepwise multiple linear regression were used. Results Greater pharmacist contribution was independently associated with lower affective pain (standardised β = –0.214, p = .049). Lower household income was independently associated with higher sensory and total pain (β = –0.364 and –0.385, both p < .01). Trust in the pharmacist correlated with better mental health (ρ = 0.28, p = .005); 47% of participants identified the pharmacy as their most accessible point of pain-related care. Conclusion Older adults in this exploratory sample perceived community pharmacists as accessible and trustworthy; pharmacist-related variables showed modest cross-sectional associations with selected patient-reported outcomes that warrant confirmation in larger, longitudinal studies.

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