Overview of the evidence base: Community Pharmacy
(PharmacyHealthLink and RPSGB forthcoming)
1. Research suggests a strong evidence base for the following:
Proactive leaflet distribution supporting advice on medicines or health advice
Brief consultations with clients on health behaviours, linked to PCTs' public health programmes
Stop-smoking services - community pharmacies as providers of opportunistic and specialist services
Community-based initiatives to reduce health inequalities and contribute to neighbourhood renewal
Diabetes - people with diabetes being offered monitoring and information in community pharmacies
Emergency hormonal contraception - the continuation of, and expansion into, services for the under-16s and into sexual health advice generally
Flu immunisation for older people
2. The evidence base also supports, with appropriate evaluation:
Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease - pharmacy-based programmes for risk factor monitoring and advice, prophylactic aspirin, and lipid control
Weight reduction and healthy eating programmes - based in pharmacies
3. The careful evaluation of pharmacy-based programmes is recommended in the following areas where the evidence is, as yet, less strong:
Physical activity, alcohol misuse, skin cancer, oral health, asthma education (in schools), mental health, head lice, prevention of sexually transmitted infections, travel health
