The acceptability of pharmacy-based blood pressure screening in Newfoundland and Labrador: Insights from a patient-oriented survey

The global burden of hypertension demands effective, scalable interventions for early detection and management. Despite advances in treatment, hypertension remains underdiagnosed, often because of its asymptomatic progression and limited routine screening. Community pharmacy-based blood pressure (BP) screening is one solution that extends preventive care into local settings.

To evaluate the acceptability of community pharmacy-based BP screening in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) from the patient's perspective.

This cross-sectional survey was part of a mixed-methods investigation grounded in the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Individuals aged 18 years and older who had received a BP screening during the 2024 May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign in NL were invited to participate. The survey, designed to assess the 7 constructs of acceptability using a 5-point Likert scale, also included items related to satisfaction, participant demographics, and open-ended prompts. Quantitative items were summarized using descriptive statistics, and text-based responses were analyzed using the Framework Method.

Thirty-one participants completed the survey; the mean age was 49.7 years (standard deviation [SD] 15.95) and 58.1% (n = 18) were women. The composite acceptability score was 4.08 out of 5 (SD 0.32). Participants' ratings were high across all 7 TFA constructs. In terms of qualitative findings, the convenience and accessibility of the service, as well as the warmth and professionalism displayed by pharmacy staff, were consistently reported.

The community pharmacy-based BP screening initiative was highly acceptable to patients who participated in MMM 2024 and completed the acceptability survey. Findings support expanding pharmacy-based BP screening to improve preventive care and cardiovascular health outcomes.