Pharmacists as Key Contributors to Preventive Medicine: A Study On Immunization, Screening, And Medication Adherence in Public Health

Original Article

Abstract

Background: Preventive medicine is vital for enhancing population health and reducing healthcare expenses. Pharmacists are usually not part of preventive care programs despite their accessibility to the greatest number of people. They can greatly contribute to population health outcomes, especially in resource-constrained environments, through participation in services such as immunization, screening, and medication adherence counseling.

Objectives:  To assess pharmacists' contributions to preventive healthcare through immunization, chronic disease screening, and medication-adherence counseling and to identify barriers to their integration into public health programs.

Methodology: This study employed a  descriptive cross-sectional study to assess pharmacists' participation in preventive care. The information was gathered from surveys and interviews with pharmacists in community and hospital pharmacies. Their involvement in immunization programs, screening of chronic diseases, and medication adherence counseling was studied. The statistical analysis used the mean age, standard deviation, and p-value to assess the relevance of these interventions in improving health outcomes.

Results:  A total of 132 pharmacists participated in the study (mean age 37.5 ± 8.3 years). Findings showed that 45 percent of respondents actively pursued immunization services, and 62 percent had preventive screenings for diabetes and hypertension. There was also a strong positive relationship between early disease detection and pharmacist-led screening (p = 0.03). Treatment compliance increased by 40% after medication adherence counseling (p =0.02). These results demonstrate the success of pharmacist-led preventive services in improving health outcomes and preventing primary care gaps.

Conclusion: Pharmacists play a major role in preventive healthcare, especially in immunization, screening, and medication adherence, thereby enhancing population health outcomes. Notwithstanding this, structural and policy barriers undermine their integration into the formal healthcare system. The role of pharmacists in preventing medication errors can be expanded to reduce healthcare costs and enhance earlier detection and adherence to treatment.