Behavioural insights about barriers and facilitators to returning inhalers to the community pharmacy in Wales for safe disposal: patient and community pharmacy perspectives

Objectives: Inhalers containing hydrofluorocarbons have significant global warming potential. This project aimed to understand patient and community pharmacy (CP) staff perspectives on engaging in a CP-based inhaler recycling scheme. Methods: The COM-B Model of Behaviour and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) underpinned the qualitative data collection methodology. Data from eleven patients and five CP staff were mapped to the COM-B, TDF, and Behaviour Change Wheel. Results: Patients and CP staff believed widespread knowledge of the need for, and existence of inhaler recycling schemes would encourage participation, building on existing recycling behaviours and aligning with moral obligations. Patients viewed CPs as trusted information sources, well-placed to raise recycling awareness. No patient participants recycled their inhalers and they felt that CPs were not adequately promoting recycling. Despite being involved in a pilot scheme, CP staff described having insufficient time with patients to encourage recycling. Patients saw inhaler recycling as integral to the CP’s professional role whereas CP staff felt this responsibility was for the wider healthcare team. Both groups agreed inhaler recycling awareness should be raised, highlighted the busyness of CPs as a barrier to conversations, and considered feedback on the inhaler recycling pilots success an important motivator. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into patient’ and CP staff views on inhaler disposal. Whilst some barriers and facilitators were the same for both, identified areas of divergence surrounded the TDF Domain Professional Role and Identity. Further research should quantify the extent to which the wider population and CPs in Wales hold these views.