Table 2. Facilitators and barriers to effective interactions with other health professionals.

Facilitators	Verbatim quotes
Established rapport and relationship	“So you may get contacted by that other health professional to really have a chat. Say, for instance, diabetes from a diabetic educator, saying, ‘Oh, look, what were the issues when you visited the patient?’ So that's really again, it's a bit case-by-case sort of basis, but generally quite good and healthy relationships.” (P07 C) “…because of the relationships, if there's any sort of issue or there's something that comes up, it's very easy just to address it…” (P10 A) “The collaboration, it's some GPs [general practitioners]…who I know well now, they actually phone me about other things or email me about other things. So they sort of say, ‘Look. Yes, I was worried about, yes, atrial fibrillation… and the new oral anticoagulants, the NOACs [novel oral anticoagulants],’ and they might like some more information on that, which is totally unrelated to any review I've done for them, but they just want info. So it's created a dialogue between us, which is really good. And so it's a sign. This is a sign. Right? So we do collaborate. We do make time if they've got problems. But I talk to them if I have concerns, even while I'm in there. They'll bring things to me while I'm in the facility which are not related to my review at all, but you just do it because I want to be professional and they appreciate it. They want to consult.” (P18 A)
Capitalising on existing workflow and resources	“…I also go to the…they have another aged care independent people sort of facility and we meet up with them and talk about the wound care for their residents and clients.” (P14 CAS) “Our AHS [Aboriginal Health Service] used to host mornings for the health professionals to come over, so that was quite handy. So alternate Tuesdays, we'd have a physio would come over, and that would give me the opportunity to book a patient into the physio for that morning.” (P19 A) “I do have a lot of informal meetings. Sometimes I would, with individual GPs, just go out for like a lunch meeting or I'll just catch them between appointments.” (P20 C)
Location and proximity	“The doctors next door we would meet with, I mean, we sort of see them quite regularly anyway. So if there's any need we'll have a chat about it then. But if there's anything coming up, for example, then one of us pharmacists will go next door and have a quick chat with the doctor …” (P13 CAI) “I do a bit with exercise physiologists now. I've probably only started in the last six months or so. So one of the things we do is dealing with weight loss. If I feel as though they would benefit with knowing a little bit more of how to exercise, or they're also motivated to do stuff again. Yes. I've got a group of exercise physiologists probably 500 metres down the road. And another one probably a K [kilometre] and a half away or something. Between those two groups we send a bit there.” (P22 CIS) “So people see the value once you maybe talk to them or interact with them… I think it's more verbal with most of the other health professionals.” (P24 CAS)
Experience and confidence	“…credibility, because you've got someone backing you up who's got a very good reputation…” (P15 CI) “They know that we're professional. They know they can ring us up. And we do get quite a lot ….” (P23 CAIS) “I think the collaborations have come because of the different components I work in, and I tend to have the collaborations as a result of the way I work… And because I've got that background where I do work in these practices, even if it's outside those hours, I'll just go and say to the staff, ‘I'm going to go and see such and such. I'll just wait at their door.’ So it's probably the confidence and also an acceptance that the practice is happy for me to do that because they know who I am.” (P24 CAS)
Barriers	Verbatim quotes
Inadequate understanding and appreciation of roles	“I'm pretty disappointed in the lack of uptake by other health professionals; a lack of interest in medication reviews. I think it's very poorly understood, and unless there's an uptake driver for all participants, they won't participate.” (P06 C) “… you can get GPs that are opposed to pharmacists becoming involved in their patient… they want full control of their patient rather having the patients see the pharmacists as well. Yes, that's a barrier if their attitude is not right …” (P14 CAS) “We have made attempts to talk to doctors in the past, and it's not always—doctors seem to think that we're just trying to flog them something, and they don't really want to be talked to unless someone's buying them lunch.” (P15 CI) “…you're still at the mercy of your prescriber… …so it's not only training of staff that you need but training of the prescriber.” (P22 CIS)
Lack of a structured and consistent two-way referral pathway	“We have established referral pathways to psychologists and other user groups like WA Substance Users Group, Next Step… Are there really well-established referral pathways for our customer base? No, I don't believe there are. …in the vast majority of cases, we'd leave it up to the patient.” (P06 C) “It's mainly verbal. So just recommending them to see a doctor if, like you said, the treatment I've provided doesn't work or if I feel there's no adequate over-the-counter option. So, yes, mainly informal, verbal, but, for example, yesterday, actually, I typed up a letter because a patient was prescribed a medication that needed an authority to get it under PBS, or else it would have been quite expensive for them. So that one, I drafted up a letter to bring to the doctor at the next appointment.” (P12 CI) “Because it's all patient confidentiality…. we don't have sort of a common integrated system…” (P20 C)