Evaluation of community pharmacists' experiences with cholesterol screening programs.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the cholesterol screening experiences of Nebraska community pharmacists.


METHODS
A mail survey was used to assess pharmacists' experiences with and involvement in cholesterol screening and patient follow-up based on National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines.


METHODS
A college of pharmacy in an academic health center.


METHODS
Pharmacists-in-charge of all Nebraska community pharmacies.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Participants' responses to survey items.


RESULTS
Of 308 respondents, 83 indicated that cholesterol screenings had been held in their pharmacies. Whereas 95% felt that the screenings had been conducted appropriately, only 61% had actually monitored the screening process. Pharmacists were somewhat aware of the types of information being provided to patients being screened, although few were aware of the specific procedures used to identify high-risk patients. Eight of 80 pharmacists indicated that they obtained a list of patients who were told to contact their physicians based on their cholesterol screening results. Only 3 of 30 pharmacists responding to a question asking whether they contacted such patients to remind them to contact their physician reported actually doing so.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists were relatively uninvolved in both the screening process and the provision of information to the patients who were screened. Few pharmacists initiated-up contact with patients who were referred for physician evaluation.
Jungnickel
P W
PW
Auburn University, School of Pharmacy, AL 36849-5501, USA. jungnpw@mail.auburn.edu
Wisehart
D A
DA
D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D009329:Nebraska; D010595:Pharmacists; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires