Pharmacist-provided quantitative heel ultrasound screening for rural women at risk of osteoporosis.
BACKGROUND
Osteoporosis is underdiagnosed, and rural communities often have limited technical resources for the assessment of osteoporosis.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist, trained in the use of a portable heel ultrasound device, in screening elderly rural women for risk of osteoporosis and determine whether those found to be at risk seek further help and treatment from their general practitioner (GP) following screening.


METHODS
Following promotion of the service, 345 women were recruited from 6 rural community pharmacies in Tasmania, Australia, and underwent quantitative heel ultrasound screening. Women were comprehensively educated on risk factors for osteoporosis and completed a calcium intake questionnaire. Results were forwarded to each woman's GP, and the participants were followed up 3 months later to assess outcomes from the screening procedure.


RESULTS
Approximately 20% of women were shown to be at high risk for osteoporosis; 201 (58%) of these were referred to their GP for further assessment. Sixty-eight percent of women who were screened discussed their results with their GP, and 11% underwent further investigation. Over one-third of women screened began medication (30% calcium, 6% bisphosphonate, 6% vitamin D) for osteoporosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacist-provided screening for osteoporosis in rural areas is a potentially useful method to identify women at risk for fracture and a convenient time point for discussion of preventive therapy.
Naunton
Mark
M
Faculty of Health Science, Tasmanian School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.
Peterson
Gregory M
GM
Jones
Graeme
G
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006365:Heel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010595:Pharmacists; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013648:Tasmania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004164:Diphosphonates; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium