Recent publications focusing on pharmacists’ contribution and educational needs in geriatric care

Author: Klejda Harasani

Affiliation: University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania

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What happens when researchers, pharmacists and geriatricians from Albania, Portugal, Poland, Italy, the UK, Serbia and Greece work together?

An international team of researchers from the PROGRAMMING 21122 COST Action recently published two compelling studies that highlight both the measurable impact of pharmacists on older adults’ healthcare and the need for specialized geriatric training within the pharmacy profession.

The first study, a narrative review published in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, explores the specific role of pharmacists in geriatric care. It compiles evidence showing that when pharmacists are embedded into multidisciplinary geriatric teams, they significantly improve medication management. This person-centered approach ensures that older adults receive safer, more effective treatments tailored to their unique needs.

However, translating this potential into everyday practice requires the right competencies. In the second study, a multinational and multilingual survey published in European Geriatric Medicine, pharmacists' perceived knowledge, attitudes, and practice in geriatrics were investigated. The findings revealed a clear trend: participating pharmacists across Europe consistently reported that geriatric care topics were highly relevant to their daily practice. Yet, self-rated knowledge in specialized areas—such as polypharmacy, chronic pain, delirium, and deprescribing—frequently lagged behind this enthusiasm.

Pharmacists are perfectly positioned to be frontline advocates for healthy ageing and medication safety, but to do so effectively, they require better educational support. Strengthening geriatric topics within pharmacy curricula and encouraging specialized training will ensure these professionals are fully equipped to meet the complex needs of our ageing global population.

To dive deeper into the clinical evidence, you can access the narrative review on https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40520-025-03254-7

You can also explore the multinational survey results detailing the educational needs of pharmacy professionals on https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41999-026-01504-z

Both publications were strongly supported by the international collaboration fostered through the PROGRAMMING COST Action and the EuGMS. By bridging the gap between clinical evidence and educational needs, Harasani and colleagues offer a clear roadmap for the future of geriatric pharmaceutical care and training.

References:

1. Harasani K, Duque S, Piotrowicz K, Lavrador M, Figueiredo IV, Castel-Branco MM, Gjonbrataj J, Kotsani M. The role of pharmacists in geriatric care: current evidence and practice. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2026 Jan 2;38(1):21. doi: 10.1007/s40520-025-03254-7. 

2. Harasani K, Ogliari G, Soraci L, Piotrowicz K, Duque S, Gugu M, Stefanović K, Kotsani M. Pharmacists' perceived knowledge, attitudes and practice in geriatrics: findings from a multinational multilingual open online survey. Eur Geriatr Med. 2026 May 14. doi: 10.1007/s41999-026-01504-z. 

3. https://cost-programming.eu/

Klejda Harasani