Navigating Boundaries: How Pharmacists Develop Their Clinical Identity in a Complex Multidisciplinary Healthcare Setting

Abstract

This study uncovered the complex interplay between intrapersonal boundaries - such as role ambiguity, self-doubt, reconciling traditional dispensing roles with expanded clinical responsibilities, and the need for mentorship - and interpersonal boundaries, including hierarchical structures, unclear role expectations, limited recognition, and challenges in interprofessional collaboration, in shaping clinical pharmacists' identities. Fostering boundary crossing competence and interprofessional collaboration can help overcome systemic barriers, enabling pharmacists to navigate their roles, advocate for their expertise, and gain recognition within healthcare teams, ultimately enhancing their integration and improving patient care in resource-constrained settings like South Africa.