Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40212890›Full record

ArticleExploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy2025

Understanding pharmacists' engagement in sport and exercise medicine, including pharmacist-physiotherapist collaboration: A qualitative study and COM-B analysis.

Alison D Hooper, Jodie Marquez, Beata Bajorek, Joyce Cooper, David Newby

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Alison D HooperSchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Jodie MarquezSchool of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Beata BajorekSchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Joyce CooperSchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
David NewbySchool of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Sport and exercise medicine (SEM) is a multidisciplinary field that integrates expertise from various healthcare professionals to optimise athletic performance and promote physical activity for chronic disease prevention and management. Australian pharmacists are well-positioned to contribute to SEM, yet their roles remain undefined beyond niche areas like anti-doping. Interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with physiotherapists, is also underexplored. This study investigates pharmacists' engagement in SEM and pharmacist-physiotherapist collaboration, using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model to explore behavioural components. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 14 Australian pharmacists practicing across diverse settings. Data were thematically analysed and mapped to the COM-B framework. Results: Five key themes emerged: (1) Broad scope of pharmacy practice in SEM incorporating both pharmacological and non-pharmacological advice; (2) Opportunities and challenges in inter-professional collaboration, constrained by informal referral pathways and limited interdisciplinary communication (3) Gaps in SEM-related training and education, with pharmacists expressing interest in targeted professional development; (4) Perceived barriers to engagement, including time constraints, remuneration issues and lack of professional recognition; and (5) Future opportunities for pharmacists in SEM, such as integration into multidisciplinary SEM teams and supporting physiotherapist prescribing. Conclusions: Pharmacists are well-placed to play a broader role in SEM but face systemic and educational barriers. Enhancing training, establishing formal referral and interdisciplinary communication pathways and addressing structural challenges could improve engagement. This study lays the groundwork for future interventions to enhance pharmacists' contributions to SEM and strengthen pharmacist-physiotherapist collaboration, ultimately improving consumer care and health outcomes.

Indexed as

Behaviour changeCOM-B modelInterprofessional collaborationPharmacistsPhysiotherapySport and exercise medicineSports pharmacy

Identifiers

PMID40212890
PMCPMC11984990

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.