PhD Studentship: Screening for common medical conditions in community pharmacy settings

The prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD) is increasing and their impact on the disease burden and healthcare economy is substantial. Studies show that pharmacists’ can have a significant potential role in health prevention by being easily accessible in the community. The aim of the study is to identify if there is a perceived benefit in targeted risk based screening of patients in a primary community pharmacy setting. Survey questionnaires will be developed using previous literature and then distributed to members of the public, pharmacists and patients attending pharmacies across the UK, to establish their beliefs regarding this role. Results will be analysed using statistical software. Early identification of CNCDs and interventional methods to slow disease progression could provide tangible benefits to the UK economy. The next phase will involve a feasibility study in a community pharmacy setting; to assess the feasibility of screening for CNCDs in terms of logistics, environment, process and the impact upon the running of the pharmacy.