A mixed-methods approach to understanding pharmacists’ experiences with the CANRISK diabetes risk questionnaire and user guide

INTRODUCTION: The Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire (CANRISK) is a validated tool for diabetes risk screening, but the extent of its uptake and implementation by Canadian pharmacists has not been assessed. We aimed to describe the current use of the CANRISK tool and user guide among pharmacists, identify facilitators and barriers, and provide solutions to improve uptake. METHODS: We used a mixed-methods approach comprising an initial quantitative online survey followed by qualitative interviews with pharmacists to allow for a deeper understanding of their experiences. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey data and thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. RESULTS: We found that 89% of pharmacists surveyed provided diabetes counselling on a daily or weekly basis, but more than half (55%) were not aware of CANRISK and its user guide. Of those who were aware, 60% indicated that they rarely or never used CANRISK. Five overarching themes were identified in the qualitative component. The facilitators to CANRISK uptake included pharmacist's interest, diabetes clinic days/awareness campaigns, and patient-provider relationship. However, there are barriers to its implementation, including time constraints, competing priorities, financial pressures, staff shortages, and limited understanding of the tool's usefulness. CONCLUSION: This paper found that CANRISK use was limited, and that support is needed to address the barriers for the successful implementation of CANRISK in pharmacies.