488 A qualitative study into the barriers and facilitators to effective communication with people with age-related hearing loss in community pharmacy settings

Abstract Introduction One in six adults are affected by hearing loss, and this number increases with age.(1) Inadequate communication is a barrier to the delivery of effective care for people loss.(2) Communication regarding medicines particularly relevant pharmaceutical older who more likely be living have multiple comorbidities experience polypharmacy, risk factor adverse drug events. This study sought explore factors that facilitate impede age-related loss (presbycusis) community pharmacy, provide base upon which identify solutions/interventions improve these interactions. Aim To barriers facilitators pharmacy setting. Methods qualitative consisted semi-structured interviews (presbycusis), (>50 years old) without focus groups pharmacists, conducted between March – June 2022. Participants were recruited purposively via advert snowballing. Interviews using Microsoft Teams or Zoom; two held telephone. Data was analysed framework method. Results Sixteen three took part. Eight pharmacists part across one interview. Four main themes identified. The first ‘grappling environment’. theme reflects multitude environmental person-centred such as heavy workload, time constraints, lack privacy, noise levels Covid-19 safety measures on communication. second ‘promoting acknowledgment inclusion pharmacy’. captures perception among patients their not setting could done signify recognises needs those loss. Third, ‘patient perceptions use services’. highlights awareness role is, primarily exclusively place collect prescriptions limited interaction personnel. final ‘differing about communication’. articulates varying patient-provider key Conclusion garnered rich insights experiences accessing providing within However, due pandemic, data collection chiefly online findings cannot considered reflective facing digital exclusion. There clearly need pharmacists’ of, access implementation strategies, adaptations, assistive technologies Future research should interventions support strategies/adaptations tailored order engender hearing-friendly pharmacies. References 1. RNID. (2015) Hearing Matters. Available at: https://rnid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Hearing-Matters-Report.pdf [Accessed 09/08/2022] 2. Killick, K. et al. (2018) A scoping review sensory International Journal Pharmacy Practice, 26(5), pp. 380–386. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12456.