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Health promotion and screening for cardiovascular risk factors in NSW: a community pharmacy model
Author(s) -
Krass Ines,
Hourihan Fleur,
Chen Timothy
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he03101
Subject(s) - population health , pharmacy , community health , medicine , community pharmacy , health promotion , health economics , public health , promotion (chess) , project commissioning , environmental health , publishing , family medicine , gerontology , nursing , political science , politics , law
Issues addressed The implementation and evaluation of a standardised cardiovascular health promotion and screening service in community pharmacy. Method The service was implemented in two phases. Training was provided in the use of the health promotion and screening protocol and testing equipment to measure blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol (TC), and body mass index (BMI). The null hypothesis tested was that there would be no difference in mean clinical parameters between cohorts at initial screening and within cohorts at baseline and three month follow‐up. Results 389 participants were screened. At baseline, similar prevalence of risk factors were present in both cohorts (54% had a BMI>25 kg/m2; 53% cholesterol>5.0 mmol/L; 17% systolic BP140 mmHg +/‐ diastolic BP90 mmHg; 28% required referral to a GP; 54% participated in less than the recommended level of physical activity). 79% received lifestyle advice (diet, physical activity, smoking cessation). At three months post screening, there was a reduction of 0.26 mmol/L (95% CI 0.10–0.42) in mean TC within both cohorts (p< 0.003) and a reduction of 10.5 mmHg (95% CI 4.0–16.9) in mean systolic BP within cohort one (p=0.012). In general, consumers were satisfied with the health promotion and screening service offered in community pharmacy. Conclusion The service identified a significant proportion of participants who were at risk of cardiovascular disease. This resulted in early intervention and/or referral for further assessment and management.