Point-of-Care Testing for Anemia, Diabetes, and Hypertension: A Pharmacy-Based Model in Lima, Peru

Garcia Funegra, Patricia Jannet; La Rosa, Sayda; Saldarriaga, Enrique M.; Valderrama, Maria; Vodicka, Elisabeth

dc.contributor.author	Saldarriaga, Enrique M.
dc.contributor.author	Vodicka, Elisabeth
dc.contributor.author	La Rosa, Sayda
dc.contributor.author	Valderrama, Maria
dc.contributor.author	Garcia Funegra, Patricia Jannet
dc.date.accessioned	2019-01-25T15:28:07Z
dc.date.available	2019-01-25T15:28:07Z
dc.date.issued	2017
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12866/4724
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Prevention and control of chronic diseases is a high priority for many low- and middle-income countries. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of training pharmacy workers to provide point-of-care testing for 3 chronic diseases-hypertension, diabetes, and anemia-to improve disease detection and awareness through private pharmacies. METHODS: We developed a multiphase training curriculum for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to build capacity for identification of risk factors, patient education, point-of-care testing, and referral for abnormal results. We conducted a pre-post evaluation with participants and evaluated results using Student t test for proportions. We conducted point-of-care testing with pharmacy clients and evaluated acceptability by patient characteristics (age, gender, and type of patient) using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 72 pharmacy workers (66%) completed the full training curriculum. Pretest scores indicated that pharmacists had more knowledge and skills in chronic disease risk factors, patient education, and testing than pharmacy technicians. All participants improved their knowledge and skills after the training, and post-test scores indicated that pharmacy technicians achieved the same level of competency as pharmacists (P < .01). Additionally, 698 clients received at least 1 test during the study; 53% completed the acceptability survey. Nearly 100% thought the pharmacy could provide faster results, faster and better attention, and better access to basic screening for hypertension, diabetes, and anemia than a traditional health center. Fast service was very important: 41% ranked faster results and 30% ranked faster attention as the most important factor for receiving diagnostic testing in the pharmacy. DISCUSSION: We found that it is both feasible for pharmacies and acceptable to clients to train pharmacy workers to provide point-of-care testing for anemia, diabetes, and hypertension. This innovative approach holds potential to increase early detection of risk factors and bolster disease prevention and management efforts in Peru and other low- and middle-income settings.	en_US
dc.language.iso	eng
dc.publisher	Levy Library Press
dc.relation.ispartofseries	Annals of Global Health
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.subject	Peru	en_US
dc.subject	Humans	en_US
dc.subject	diabetes	en_US
dc.subject	hypertension	en_US
dc.subject	Patient Acceptance of Health Care	en_US
dc.subject	Point-of-Care Testing	en_US
dc.subject	anemia	en_US
dc.subject	Anemia/diagnosis	en_US
dc.subject	Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis	en_US
dc.subject	Hypertension/diagnosis	en_US
dc.subject	Patient Education as Topic	en_US
dc.subject	Pharmaceutical Services/organization & administration	en_US
dc.subject	pharmacies	en_US
dc.subject	POC test	en_US
dc.subject	point-of-care testing	en_US
dc.subject	rapid test	en_US
dc.title	Point-of-Care Testing for Anemia, Diabetes, and Hypertension: A Pharmacy-Based Model in Lima, Peru	en_US
dc.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aogh.2017.03.514
dc.subject.ocde	https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#3.02.00
dc.relation.issn	2214-9996