Objectives: The objective of the study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a pharmacist-led hypertension preventative service in the community pharmacy.
Methods: This was an exploratory uncontrolled pre-post intervention study conducted from February 2012 - March 2013 in three community pharmacies in Ghana. Clients at risk for hypertension were identified and screened by the Medicine Counter Assistant (MCA). Those whose blood pressure was above 140/90 (stage 1 and 2 hypertension) were referred to the pharmacist for further assessment and referral to the physician as necessary. Participant awareness of risk and changes in the lifestyle was assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up respectively.
Key findings: Out of 250 clients approached, 170 agreed to be screened. Forty three (25%) were pre-hypertensive, 42 (25%) had stage 1 hypertension and 13 (8%) had stage 2 hypertension. The most frequent modifiable risk factors identified were lack of exercise 107 (63%), poor diet (42%) and obesity (21%). Lifestyle changes reported at 6 months by participants with pre-hypertension were weight reduction and reduced alcohol intake. Of the 34 participants who were referred to the physician, 10 (29%) were diagnosed with hypertension and an antihypertensive was prescribed.
Conclusions: Hypertension preventative services offered in the Ghanaian community pharmacy are acceptable to clients. The findings suggest that pharmacists can detect hypertension and promote some lifestyle changes among clients with pre-hypertension. A larger controlled study is needed to confirm these findings. Ultimately guidelines and polices to streamline these services would be needed if such services were made routinely available in community pharmacies in Ghana.
Keywords: community pharmacy; detection; hypertension; prevention.
© 2016 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.