Evaluating software usability to identify barriers to community pharmacists' use and to improve Medication Therapy Management adoption for older adults

/ABSTRACT Polypharmacy among older adults presents a growing public health concern, contributing to adverse drug events, increased hospitalizations, and higher healthcare costs. Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services, often delivered by community pharmacists, play a key role in optimizing medication use, improving adherence, and enhancing therapeutic outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. However, the usability of MTM software platforms used to document and deliver these services remains a major barrier to widespread implementation and effectiveness. Most community pharmacists must navigate multiple vendor-contracted platforms daily, often without formal usability assessments or consideration of their real-world workflow needs. This project seeks to evaluate and improve the usability and perceived usefulness of MTM software platforms used in community pharmacy settings. The study has two specific aims: Aim 1 will assess the usability of commonly used MTM platforms through remote, naturalistic usability testing sessions with community pharmacists in Indiana. Key metrics will include user errors, task completion rates, efficiency, and satisfaction (via the System Usability Scale). Aim 2 will explore pharmacists’ perceptions of MTM software usefulness through semi-structured interviews guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. Project Number: 1R21AG101381-01 | Fiscal Year: 2026 | NIH Institute/Center: National Institute on Aging (NIA) | Principal Investigator: Margie Snyder | Institution: PURDUE UNIVERSITY, WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | Award Amount: $346,500 | Activity Code: R21 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 HSS-F (02)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11356158