Enabling pharmacist prescribing: Lessons learned in Nova Scotia using behaviour change theory

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic alongside increased patient demand, enablement of scope, and government funding has accelerated the need and demand for pharmacist prescribing in Nova Scotia. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was undertaken to understand barriers and facilitators to pharmacist prescribing in Nova Scotia, Canada. This consisted of: 1) a cross-sectional survey and 2) semistructured, qualitative interviews with pharmacists practising in the community. The survey and interviews were designed using the Behaviour Change Wheel that encompasses the Capability Opportunity Motivation Model of Behaviour Change (COM-B) and Theoretical Domains Framework version 2 (TDFv2). Results: Of 190 survey respondents, the percentage who prescribed 15+ times/month increased from 49% before to 80% during the COVID-19 pandemic (P