Hospital pharmacists’ perceptions, needs, barriers, and facilitators of pharmacy practice research in China: a qualitative study

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacy practice research has received increasing international attention but remains in its early stages in China. Understanding pharmacists' engagement in such research is essential for advancing pharmaceutical care and strengthening evidence-based practice. AIM: This study aimed to explore hospital pharmacists' perceptions of pharmacy practice research and identify the factors influencing their engagement in such research. METHOD: This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 21 pharmacists from Grade A tertiary hospitals across 14 provinces and municipalities in China. Participants were purposively sampled to ensure variation in their professional roles, experience, and geographic region. The interviews were conducted online, audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis informed by the COM-B framework and were managed using NVivo 12. Coding was performed independently by two researchers, and discrepancies were resolved through discussion to enhance the analytical rigor. RESULTS: Three overarching themes and 18 subthemes were identified. Most participants recognized the importance of pharmacy practice research and expressed a strong willingness to engage, particularly when research activities were closely aligned with their clinical practices. The key motivations included professional fulfillment, career advancement, and personal research interests. The identified research needs focused on optimizing pharmaceutical service content and models and strengthening information system support to facilitate data access and decision-making. Institutional support, a positive research culture, and interdisciplinary collaboration were important facilitators of engagement. However, major barriers include insufficient time and staffing, limited research resources, and inadequate research competence. CONCLUSION: Hospital pharmacists in China generally recognize the value of pharmacy practice research; however, their engagement is shaped by capability-, opportunity-, and motivation-related factors, including research competence, organizational support, resource availability, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Strengthening research training, institutional support, and collaborative research environments may enhance pharmacists' engagement in pharmacy practice.