Design and Development of Tools for Risk Evaluation of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Community Pharmacy

Abstract

There is an increasing motivation to implement pharmacist-led screening services in community pharmacies. This study aims to develop tools to support the pharmacist in the context of a diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk assessment service. Our development involved a multistep process using a user-centred approach, including a need assessment phase (14 patients, 17 pharmacists) and a creative design phase, followed by the evaluation of the materials (10 patients, 16 pharmacists). Three following themes covering educational needs emerged from stakeholders’ discussions: “content”, “layout”, and “form”, with three additional themes regarding the practical organisation: “software”, “awareness”, and “referral”. Based on the need assessment, tools for patient education purposes and awareness campaigns were created. During the development, special attention was paid to the writing style and structure with less text and more graphical colourful elements to suit patients with different health literacy and educational levels. The evaluation phase allowed researchers to observe participants engaging with the materials. Overall, participants were satisfied with the tools. The contents were considered valuable and relevant. However, adaptations were necessary to ensure their understanding and long-term usability. Finally, future research is required to evaluate the materials’ impact on patients’ behaviour towards their identified risk factors and ensure their effectiveness.

Assessment the knowledge of community pharmacists in diabetic patients counseling in Ha’il, Saudi Arabia

“…These interventions usually involved medication review, education concerning health promotion, diseases, medication understanding, and speci c risk reduction activities. Outcomes included a signi cantly improved quality of life, reduced disease risk, and premature mortality (11). Research conducted in China in 2021 has demonstrated the potential of community pharmacists in educating individuals about risk factors and the bene ts of adopting healthy lifestyles.…”