Using community pharmacies to expand access to screening for noncommunicable diseases in suburban Ghana—A facility‐based survey on client needs and acceptability

BACKGROUND: Many of the 28 million deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low‐ and middle‐income countries each year could be prevented through early detection and intervention. The introduction of screening for NCDs in community pharmacies (CPs) in Ghana could enhance access to early detection. METHODS: We surveyed clients in three districts in suburban Ghana to assess perceived need for screening, willingness to be screened in CPs, and willingness to receive NCD health promotion information through text messages (NCD m‐Health). We performed regression analysis to identify predictors of NCD m‐Health acceptability. RESULTS: We interviewed 330 clients in six CPs, 134 (42.3%) of whom were females. The median age was 34 years (interquartile range, 27‐43). Fifty‐four (16.4%) had no formal education. Although most respondents knew obesity (74.9%), smoking (81.9%), and excessive dietary salt (91.7%) were risk factors for NCDs, only 27.0% knew family history carried similar risk. Most respondents, 61.6% and 70.6%, respectively, had not had their weight and blood pressure (BP) checked for more than 12 months. These included about a third of respondents who were known hypertensives. Similarly, 71.3% of 80 participants with a family history of hypertension had not had their BPs checked. Screening for NCDs in CPs and the sending of NCD m‐Health messages was deemed acceptable to 98.5% and 83.1% of the participants, respectively. Formal education beyond junior high school (Grade 9) was the strongest independent predictor of NCD m‐Health acceptance (OR = 4.77; 95% CI, 1.72‐13.18; P value < 0.01). One hundred and twenty‐five (39.4%) participants indicated they would consider unsolicited NCD m‐Health messages an invasion of their privacy. CONCLUSION: An urgent need exists to promote access to NCD screening in these communities. Its introduction into CPs is acceptable to nearly all the clients surveyed. The introduction of NCD m‐Health as an accompaniment requires consideration for the privacy of clients.