"It was easy to sit down and chat with the pharmacist": Patients' experiences with pharmacy-based blood pressure screening

Hypertension is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Community pharmacy-based blood pressure (BP) screening programs offer opportunities for early detection and awareness. While such programs are expanding globally, little is known about their acceptability from the patient's perspective.

To explore patient experiences and the acceptability of pharmacy-based BP screening in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Qualitative interviews were completed as part of a mixed-methods investigation grounded in the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Individuals who had participated in the 2024 May Measurement Month campaign and completed the patient acceptability survey were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using the Framework Method. CoLoop was used to support data organization, charting, and analysis.

Eight women and 2 men (age range 36-80 years) completed an interview, describing pharmacy-based BP screening as convenient, trustworthy, and beneficial. The ability to interact with pharmacists during the screening process was greatly appreciated by participants. Four key themes were identified and are summarized as follows: acceptability and convenience; positive ethical perceptions and affective attitude; immediate feedback and measurement accuracy; and empowerment through increased knowledge and awareness. Overlap was observed among TFA constructs, particularly between affective attitude, ethicality, and opportunity costs.

Community pharmacy-based BP screening was highly acceptable to study participants. Patients valued the initiative's accessibility and convenience, as well as the opportunity to engage with knowledgeable pharmacy staff. Findings support expanding BP screening and preventive cardiovascular care in pharmacies.