OPINIONS OF PHARMACISTS ON COMMUNITY PHARMACY-BASED HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR COMMON CHRONIC DISEASES

Rising number of chronic diseases worldwide requires improvement of patients' care system, especially in disease prevention and health promotion. Therefore it is justified to broaden the range of services in community pharmacies in Poland. The aim of this study was to evaluate pharmacists' opinion about health screenings for chronic diseases in community pharmacies. Research was based on original, anonymous questionnaire administered between July 2016 and March 2017 to pharmacists (n = 175: 77.7% women and 22.3% men) practicing in a community pharmacy in Wielkopolska (n = 106; 77.4% women and 22.6% men) and Zachodniopomorskie Region (n = 69; 78.3% women and 21.7% men). The effect of age and gender on pharmacists' opinions was evaluated. Among pharmacists who responded, 93.7% agreed that patients don't have health check-ups when they don't experience bothersome symptoms of a disease. Almost three fourth of respondents considered implementation of health screening services in pharmacy as valuable as it can have positive influence on development of pharmaceutical care. Younger pharmacists (p = 0.019) who collaborate with physicians (p = 0.009) were most certain about it. 80,0% of pharmacist, in particular younger one, would offer their patients the screening services (p = 0.006). 79,4% pharmacists confirmed that this new service should be reimbursed by National Health Fund. Development of new health screening services in community pharmacies may help to prevent or lower the risk of complications associated with common chronic diseases.