Bridging Pharmacy and Psychosocial Care: Supporting and Referring Patients with Psychosocial Needs in a Pilot Study with Community Pharmacists

Introduction: Since 2021, project #CAVAsa strengthens the collaboration between community pharmacists and psychosocial care in Flanders (Belgium) as pharmacists are trained to identify and assist citizens with unmet psychosocial needs. This project highlights the role of pharmacists outside medication-related practice. Who’s it for? Pharmacists are accessible primary care providers who regularly engage with vulnerable individuals: people experiencing mental health problems, poverty, loneliness, family problems... However, psychosocial needs are often not or insufficiently met. The objective is therefore to train pharmacists to actively identify potential unmet needs during routine care and, if needed, signpost them to appropriate care. This early detection and intervention prevents the exacerbation of psychosocial problems. Collaborators: This initiative is a collaboration between the Flemish pharmacists’ network (VAN) and the centers for general wellbeing (CAW), supported by the universities of Leuven and Antwerp. Throughout every stage of the project, the collaboration was shaped by the collective efforts of pharmacists, welfare organizations and public mental health experts. Notably, the funding for this initiative was provided by the Flemish Government to promote the public wellbeing after the COVID-19 pandemic. Project Activities: Up to date, over 300 trained pharmacists are participating and have followed a newly developed e-learning about psychosocial needs, conversation skills, and psychosocial care. Posters and patient leaflets were developed for use in pharmacy. An online study form was used to register patient contacts concerning psychosocial care. A final evaluative survey, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, was carried out in October 2023. Results: A total of 131 pharmacists participated in the final evaluation survey. The majority of pharmacists report that they have increased awareness of psychosocial problems and they see the help and referral of patients with psychosocial problems as an important role that every pharmacist should be able to do. The e-learning and patient leaflets are seen as major added values. However, the lack of time presents an important challenge. Through the registration of patient contacts, it was found that three thirds of patients reached in the project are women, and mental health problems and family problems are most often reported. International implications: Also internationally, the traditional medication-oriented role of pharmacists continues to shift to a holistic patient-centered one. The practical approach taken in this project offers valuable insights and can be inspiring for collaborations between pharmacists and psychosocial workers. Effective training and hands-on assistance are essential, encompassing tools that facilitate pharmacists’ self-care and enable pharmacists to promptly identify psychosocial needs. The next steps: There is a need for transformative change, emphasizing the necessity of reforming pharmacists' remuneration structures in Belgium. Recognizing the pivotal role of pharmacists in the well-being of the population beyond medication management is crucial for active community involvement. This topic will be further discussed in a stakeholder meeting in January 2024.