{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T18:04:44Z","timestamp":1789495484155,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789430400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003478","name":"Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["JPMH22IA1001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["JPMH22IA1001"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003478","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>There is an increasing demand for pharmacists in Japan\u2019s health care system, particularly in cancer chemotherapy. Task shifting\/sharing has enabled clinical pharmacists to take a more active role; however, only a few hospitals have adopted this method, suggesting that institutional factors influence its implementation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the process of implementing task shifting\/sharing from physicians to pharmacists and identify the factors of promoting task shifting\/sharing in cancer chemotherapy in Japan.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We conducted semi-structured focus group interviews with hospital pharmacists in management and nonmanagement positions, between February 2023 and May 2024. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and independently coded by two researchers. A modified grounded theory approach was used, and data collection continued until theoretical saturation was reached.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Data saturation was reached after 10 group interviews and two additional interviews were conducted to ensure the comprehensiveness of the data. Five categories were identified: \u201cBarriers,\u201d \u201cCultural change,\u201d \u201cWorkflow redesign,\u201d \u201cImproving professional knowledge and clinical skills,\u201d and \u201cSuccess of interprofessional collaborative practices.\u201d Revisions to medical fees and government notifications facilitated task shifting\/sharing; however, most hospitals encountered significant barriers. Three key factors\u2014\u201cCultural change,\u201d \u201cWorkflow redesign,\u201d and \u201cImproving professional knowledge and clinical skills\u201d\u2014were essential in overcoming challenges and promoting implementation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study highlighted the process of promoting task shifting\/sharing in cancer chemotherapy. Most participants perceived that this initiative improved patient outcomes and safety and reduced the workloads of health care professionals. To further promote this initiative, it is crucial to evaluate and publish evidence of its effectiveness. Moreover, sustained support from government bodies and professional organizations is vital for broader implementation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0358247","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T17:32:39Z","timestamp":1789493559000},"page":"e0358247","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Factors affecting task shifting\/sharing from physicians to pharmacists in cancer chemotherapy in Japan: A qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-7640-8318","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Keiko","family":"Ikuta","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Kyoto University Hospital","place":["Kyoto, Japan"],"department":["Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8057-6768","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Atsushi","family":"Yonezawa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kyoto University Hospital","place":["Kyoto, Japan"],"department":["Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics"]},{"name":"Keio University","place":["Tokyo, Japan"],"department":["Division of Integrative Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hiroshi","family":"Okada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kyoto University School of Public Health","place":["Kyoto, Japan"],"department":["Department of Preventive Medicine"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hanako","family":"Naganawa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kyoto University Hospital","place":["Kyoto, Japan"],"department":["Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mitsuhiro","family":"Sugimoto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kyoto University Hospital","place":["Kyoto, Japan"],"department":["Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yasuaki","family":"Ikemi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kyoto University Hospital","place":["Kyoto, Japan"],"department":["Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mamiko","family":"Saigo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kyoto University Hospital","place":["Kyoto, Japan"],"department":["Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Akihiro","family":"Manaka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Japan Institute for Health Security","place":["Tokyo, 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