## 4 Discussion  
This study explored the role of GPPs in managing chronic conditions in Northern Ireland, offering valuable insights into their professional identity, tasks, confidence levels, and challenges in primary care. The findings highlight context-specific issues that warrant attention to maximise the impact of GPPs in primary care settings. The demographic profile of participants reflects broader trends in the pharmacy profession, where women constitute the majority of practising pharmacists [9]. Most GPPsin this study were 34-39, suggesting that the role often attracts experienced pharmacists transitioning into primary care. The relatively young median age of GPPs with 4-6 years of role-specific experience highlights the evolving nature of the GPP role in Northern Ireland, which was introduced as part of efforts to address workforce shortages and improve chronic disease management [10]. These findings align with trends showing a growing movement of pharmacists into primary care to address increasing healthcare demands [11]. The study highlights the broad scope of responsibilities undertaken by GPPs, ranging from medication reviews to managing chronic conditions and conducting patient consultations. The finding that all participants conducted medication reviews aligns with existing research emphasising this as a cornerstone of the GPP role [12,13]. These medication reviews optimise pharmacotherapy and enhance patient safety, particularly for those with complex medication regimens [14]. The high prevalence of tasks such as repeat-prescribing and addressing medication-related queries highlights the critical role GPPs play in ensuring continuity of care for long-term conditions [15]. This kind of work by GPPs reduces GP workload while improving the quality of care [16]. Chronic conditions most commonly managed by GPPs, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, reflect global trends in pharmacy practice [17]. This study reinforces the link between experience and confidence in clinical decision-making by pharmacists [18]. GPPs with 10 or more years of experience reported the highest levels of confidence, suggesting that accumulated clinical exposure enables them to navigate complex cases and contribute more effectively to MDTs. Similarly, confidence increased with age, a trend observed across healthcare professions where maturity and professional longevity enhance self-assurance [19]. Full-time GPPs also reported higher confidence than their part-time counterparts, likely due to increased exposure to clinical scenarios and greater integration into team dynamics [20,21]. Addressing confidence gaps for part-time GPPs through targeted training and mentorship programs could mitigate these disparities and ensure equitable development opportunities. Gender did not significantly influence confidence levels reflecting an equitable working environment within Northern Ireland's GPP framework, which supports professional growth across genders. International frameworks such as Canada's Patient-Centred Care, Australia's National Medicines Policy, and the U.S. Clinical Pharmacy Practice Model offer valuable insights into integrating pharmacists into healthcare teams. These models emphasise collaborative care, medication optimisation, and chronic disease management, which could be adapted to enhance the role of GPPs in Northern Ireland's primary care system. A recurring theme in the qualitative data was the need for clearer role definitions. While most participants felt they had a well-defined professional identity, some expressed uncertainty about their responsibilities within MDTs. This aligns with studies reporting that ambiguous role expectations can lead to underutilising pharmacists' skills [22,23]. In this study, GPPs described their role as complex, encompassing medication reconciliation, patient education, and interprofessional collaboration. However, the lack of formalised frameworks for their responsibilities limits their ability to work to their full potential.