Protocol: Emerging Roles and Care Impacts of Geriatric Pharmacists in Outpatient Multidisciplinary Frailty and Geriatric Syndrome Management: A Systematic Review

This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. The objectives are as follows: (1) to summarize the current literature on the roles, responsibilities, and care activities of geriatric pharmacists in outpatient multidisciplinary management of frailty and geriatric syndromes; (2) to evaluate the impact of geriatric pharmacist involvement on medication-related outcomes, patient health outcomes, quality of life, and healthcare utilization; (3) to characterize the patient populations, healthcare settings, and multidisciplinary care models in which geriatric pharmacists are involved; and (4) to examine the resource implications and costs associated with integrating geriatric pharmacists into outpatient multidisciplinary care for frail older adults and those with geriatric syndromes. A comprehensive search will be conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, supplemented by backward and forward citation searching, grey literature sources, and expert consultation. Eligible studies include randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, qualitative, mixed-methods, and descriptive studies involving community-dwelling or outpatient older adults aged 65 years and over with frailty and/or geriatric syndromes. Two reviewers will independently screen, extract data, and assess risk of bias using validated tools. Data synthesis will include narrative synthesis, thematic analysis for qualitative findings, and meta-analysis where appropriate using a random-effects model. The certainty of evidence will be assessed using the GRADE approach. This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024599685).