The pharmacy screening project--an evaluation of pharmacy-based screening programmes

The purpose of this study was to establish the proportion of pharmacies providing screening tests in the areas of Pretoria, Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp, the types of tests used and their cost to patients, the criteria employed to select high-prevalence groups, the attitudes of pharmacists towards screening, and their knowledge of test characteristics.

In Pretoria, 155 pharmacies were randomly selected and all 43 pharmacies in Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp were included.

The pharmacies included in the study sample were first contacted by telephone to identify those providing screening tests. Pharmacies that provided screening tests and agreed to participate in this study were then visited and a questionnaire was administered.

57% of the pharmacies provided at least one type of screening test. Blood pressure measurement, serum cholesterol, capillary glucose and pregnancy testing were the most common screening tests available. With the exception of blood pressure measurement, the screening tests were conducted less than 5 times per week. All respondents referred clients with abnormal results to general practitioners but only 35% of pharmacies kept records of the patients tested and the test results. The knowledge of pharmacists concerning the important features of screening tests, such as false-positive and false-negative rates, was poor. No quality control procedures for the screening tests were employed.

Providing pharmacists with specific training in the application and interpretation of screening procedures, and implementing quality control measures will reduce the number of false referrals or non-referrals, and will improve the quality of the service. If pharmacies are to play a meaningful role in screening for disease, coverage of the population will need to be increased substantially.