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Objective: The growing significance of hypertension worldwide emphasizes the crucial role of early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of individuals measuring blood pressure (BP) in community pharmacies and to identify their characteristics. Design and method: In this study, we analyzed data from 1779 participants (a random sample of the general adult population in Croatia included in the ’Epidemiology of Hypertension in Croatia -2’ project). The participants completed questionnaires and were divided into two groups; individuals who occasionally monitor BP in the community pharmacy and those who do not. Results: Out of 1779 participants, 1634 individuals (91.8%) do not measure their BP regularly in the community pharmacy. More women than men measure BP in pharmacies (55.4%). Subjects living in rural areas measure more frequently BP in the community pharmacies than those living in urban parts of Croatia. Most of those who measure BP in pharmacies had their own BP device at home (68.3%), and already have been diagnosed with sustained arterial hypertension (75.6%). However, the majority (71%) believe that pharmacists should not have a greater role in the treatment of arterial hypertension. Conclusions: Community pharmacists are still unrecognized and underused healthcare workers in Croatia. Their knowledge and skill should be used more frequently, not only in teamwork for treatment and follow-up of patients with hypertension but also in primary prevention. They might have a particularly important role in remote areas where standard health care is lacking.
Zdilar et al. (Wed,) studied this question.