Mapping the evolution of pharmacist interventions in primary care: a bibliometric analysis (2015–2026)
Jin Yi Choo, Guat See Ooi, Christina Christopher, Yen Ping Ng, Shu Ying LooiAbstract
Background
Since 2015, pharmacists have become increasingly involved in primary care and interdisciplinary healthcare teams. Subsequently, literature related to pharmacist interventions in primary care has grown rapidly and there is a need to systematically map this research to understand how the profession's clinical focus has evolved and conceptually matured.
Aim
This study aimed to identify research concerning pharmacist interventions in primary health care, published from January 2015 to 26 January 2026, and use bibliometric mapping to identify core research themes and trends and assess the maturity of these themes.
Method
A total of 691 relevant documents were retrieved using Scopus and analysed. Advanced bibliometric techniques were employed using VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, OpenRefine and biblioMagika software to conduct performance mapping and author keyword co‐occurrence analysis. Network, density and thematic maps were generated to visually demonstrate thematic maturity, topic saturation and the evolution of the research domains over time. Ethics approval was not required for this research article as it utilised published data and did not contain human participants or data.
Results
Research output related to pharmacist interventions in primary care exhibited sustained, exponential growth, peaking in 2025. The core literature remained robustly anchored in community pharmacy settings. Co‐occurrence and thematic mapping identified five highly interconnected clusters. The key terms ‘comprehensive medication management’ and ‘patient‐centred care’ represented a rapidly emerging, rather than declining, research trajectory.
Conclusion
The literature analysed reflected a mature, global transition towards proactive, multidisciplinary pharmacist‐led care. To further advance the pharmacy profession, future research must examine settings beyond community pharmacy to address critical gaps, such as specialised ambulatory care and psychosocial interventions, and ultimately optimising macro‐level population health outcomes.