Barriers and facilitators affecting the implementation of community pharmacist–led professional services in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries: a scoping review in the context of expanded scope

OBJECTIVES: Community pharmacists are expanding their practice to provide more consumer-focused professional services to support rising healthcare demands. Despite strong evidence supporting the benefits of pharmacist-led services, their uptake remains inconsistent. This review examines the factors that affect the implementation of community pharmacist-led professional services. METHODS: A scoping review of studies published between 2005 and 2024 was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria focused on studies assessing stakeholder experiences of implemented services. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed-Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Thematic synthesis was applied to extract and categorize key findings. KEY FINDINGS: Thirty-six studies were included in the final analysis. Fifteen were based in European countries, 12 in Oceanic regions, and eight in North America. Time constraints, workload pressures, general practitioner resistance, limited consumer awareness, and remuneration concerns hindered implementation. Facilitators included clear role definitions, motivated staff, structured service delivery models, enhanced collaboration with healthcare professionals, and financial incentives. CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacists have the potential to provide expanded professional services and practise to their full scope to enhance healthcare accessibility and patient outcomes. Multilevel approaches that address logistic, collaborative, systematic, and financial challenges are needed. Future research should focus on large-scale evaluations and long-term impacts to build a stronger evidence base for pharmacist-led professional services.