Pharmacists’ views on reducing the environmental impact of respiratory care have been explored in new research led by the University of Sydney, revealing sustainability commitment but limited confidence, training and systemic support for climate-conscious practice.
Published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, the qualitative study investigated Australian pharmacists’ perceptions of climate change and sustainable respiratory healthcare.
Some 32 pharmacists with at least one year of post-registration experience, working across community, hospital, academic and consultancy settings, took part in semi-structured online interviews. These discussions first explored general views on climate change before focusing on respiratory health.
Prioritising practice
Thematic analysis identified three central themes: environmental considerations as an afterthought, linking environment to respiratory care, and working towards sustainable practice.
Most pharmacists prioritised patient health and symptom control above environmental factors, often viewing sustainability as beyond their immediate scope of practice. Barriers to climate-conscious care included a lack of training, limited authority to recommend lower-carbon inhalers, time constraints and uncertainty about patient or prescriber acceptance.
Nevertheless, participants recognised opportunities to influence change, particularly through patient education, appropriate inhaler disposal and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
Many called for leadership from professional bodies, government policies and pharmaceutical manufacturers, alongside formal education and practical guidelines on sustainable practice.
Align patient care with sustainability goals
While pharmacists expressed willingness to support environmentally responsible care, they emphasised the need for systemic support and remuneration to make this feasible.
The researchers noted that most participants were younger and female (72% female), which may have limited the diversity of perspectives. They recommend that future research include a broader range of health professionals and adopt co-design approaches to better integrate sustainability into clinical practice.
This study underscores recognition among pharmacists of the importance of addressing climate change within respiratory care, but clinical priorities and systemic barriers currently limit meaningful action.
Embedding climate awareness into structured pharmacy education and training on sustainable practices, and clear professional and policy frameworks are needed to help align respiratory care with global sustainability goals and empower pharmacists to integrate environmental considerations into patient care.
Reference
Cameron R et al. Climate conscious pharmacy practice: a qualitative interview study with pharmacists in the context of respiratory health. Int J Clin Pharm Pract 2025;Sep 23:doi: 10.1007/s11096-025-02005-y.
