Acceptability of pharmacy-based bone density measurement by women and primary healthcare providers.
OBJECTIVE
To assess women's information sources regarding, and monetary value placed on, pharmacy-based bone density screening. In addition, we evaluated clinicians' response to peripheral bone mass measurements.


METHODS
We recruited 197 women 50 years of age or older in four rural Midwestern community pharmacies. Each woman completed a questionnaire and underwent calcaneal bone density testing. Results were sent to participants' primary care providers. These providers, and others practicing within a 50-mile radius, were surveyed anonymously to evaluate usefulness of bone density data provided by this program or pharmacy-based osteoporosis screening in general. In addition, clinicians were asked how they would manage a woman with a calcaneal T-score of -1.3.


RESULTS
Fifty-six percent of participants [95% CI, 49%-63%] became interested in screening through the media, and only 6% (CI, 3%-9%) became interested through contact with their primary care provider. Women were willing to pay a median of $25 for screening. Of 18 responding clinicians with patients in this study, 72% (CI, 47%-90%) found the results useful. Of the 67 responding clinicians, 51% (CI, 39%-63%) supported pharmacy-based bone mass measurement. For a case scenario of a woman with a calcaneal T-score of -1.3, 57% (CI, 46%-68%) of clinicians indicated that they would have ordered central dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and 20% (CI, 11%-29%) would have prescribed antiresorptive therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that (1) women are an important force in obtaining bone density testing outside the clinic setting, both by self-education and willingness to pay, and (2) primary care clinicians receiving such results find them useful and indicate willingness to use them in decision-making.
Lata
Paul F
PF
University of Wisconsin Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
Binkley
Neil C
NC
Elliott
Mary E
ME
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires