Diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension constitute major health risk factors and are the primary cause of death in Malta. Romilda Zarb, a final year Pharmacy student, carried out a study assessing the public response towards a health promotion scheme being set up in community pharmacies and to evaluate the feasibility and practicality of the scheme.

A health promotion scheme directed to the public and related to diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia was organised in community pharmacies. Volunteers were selected by convenience sampling and asked whether they would like to have their blood glucose, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) determined free of charge.

A questionnaire was addressed to the participants to assess knowledge on the conditions and their perception of the health promotion scheme. Another questionnaire was presented to the community pharmacists to assess their attitude towards the scheme. Out of the approached 487 patrons, 372 volunteers agreed to participate. Eighty-seven percent agree that the pharmacist is capable of providing health related information.

All participants agreed that such health schemes could be organised in community pharmacies, with 72 per cent being ready to pay for such a service. Seventy-five per cent of the interviewed pharmacists are ready to offer such health promotion schemes, of which 43 per cent already offer same services.

Ninety-eight per cent believe that blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol should be monitored on a regular basis. Zarb concluded that the majority of interviewed volunteers and pharmacists agree that pharmacists play a major role in providing patient-centered services directed to improve drug therapy outcomes.