Integrating cardiovascular healthcare screening into a community pharmacy vaccination service: A scoping review to identify opportunities for patient engagement and service expansion

Abstract

Objectives: Community pharmacies are increasingly recognised as accessible providers of public health services. Integrating cardiovascular health checks and behaviour change strategies with the community pharmacy vaccination service has the potential to improve population health outcomes. This scoping review aims to identify potential pharmacist-led cardiovascular-related services suitable for such integration, and to explore the acceptability and feasibility of pharmacy-led services among both service users and providers. Data sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science were systematically searched for UK-based empirical studies published between January 2013 and December 2024. Eligibility criteria: Primary studies reporting on pharmacist-led cardiovascular-related interventions (eg, blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol screening, smoking cessation) delivered to adults (≥18 years) in community pharmacy settings and reporting on clinical outcomes, feasibility or acceptability were included. Data extraction and synthesis: Data were extracted using a standardised form on Excel and synthesised narratively. Key domains of interest included intervention characteristics, facilitators, barriers, perceived outcomes, delivery mode and intervention content including behavioural change strategies or components to support implementation. Results: Of 8322 records screened, 53 studies met the inclusion criteria. Cardiovascular-related interventions were broadly feasible and acceptable to both patients and pharmacy staff. High patient satisfaction was attributed to the accessibility and convenience of pharmacy locations, as well as the ability of pharmacy staff to establish rapport during interactions. Facilitators of service delivery included private consultation spaces, structured training and access to digital screening tools (eg, devices for atrial fibrillation detection). Barriers included workload constraints and limited public awareness of pharmacy services. Five studies described successful integration of lifestyle interventions within pharmacy-based settings, but the long-term clinical outcomes produced by the intervention were rarely reported. Patients valued the convenience and trusted relationships with pharmacists, though concerns about privacy were raised. Pharmacists reported the need for clearer clinical protocols, and multidisciplinary support and training to improve their confidence in delivering health checks as part of their routine work. Conclusions: Community pharmacies offer an optimal setting for integrating cardiovascular-related screening interventions with the vaccination service delivered within community pharmacy. Successful implementation will require attention to the identified facilitators including the quality of staff training, competing priorities and optimisation and utilisation of pharmacy space. Future research should prioritise definitive controlled trials and cost-effectiveness analyses to assess long-term health outcomes. Policy action is also needed to support service integration and expand pharmacists’ public health roles within the wider National Health Service.