The Pharmacists' Role in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Indeed, the unsung heroes of the healthcare system are pharmacists. They play important responsibilities in patient education, health promotion, and prevention of diseases in addition to being medication custodians. The basic goal of health promotion and disease prevention is to keep people healthy by encouraging disease-prevention-friendly practices and giving them the tools they need to take control of their health and well-being. It is impossible to overstate the value of disease prevention and health promotion in the healthcare system, in communities, and in people's daily lives. Health promotion and disease prevention are important components of the healthcare system because they lower costs, promote early intervention and preventative treatment, decrease hospitalization and emergency room visits, enhance patient outcomes, and increase the productivity and efficiency of healthcare professionals. It increases life expectancy and quality of life, boosts economic growth, advocates health equality, lowers the chance of developing chronic diseases, and encourages healthy lifestyles in both communities and people. When it comes to preventing diseases and health promotion, pharmacists are innovators.

This article will highlight the frequently disregarded roles that pharmacists play in disease prevention and health promotion, as well as the reasons that these roles are so important to our overall well-being.

Health Promotion

Pharmacists play a vital role in improving public health through a variety of activities. Safe and effective medication use is ensured by counseling patients on appropriate dosages, possible side effects, and drug interactions. In addition, pharmacists teach patients about disease prevention, quality of life, and self-care practices, and provide information on nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, and stress management. They conduct health screenings (e.g. blood pressure, cholesterol, etc) to identify risk factors early and administer vaccines. In addition to preventing infectious diseases, pharmacists and other healthcare providers collaborate to manage chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), evaluate medication effectiveness, and make adjustments in treatment programs as needed. Pharmacists also contribute to emergency preparedness by ensuring immediate access to medicines and supplies during public health emergencies. Their expertise enriches physicians, nurses, and other interdisciplinary professionals, emphasizing their critical role in improving public health.

Disease Prevention

Pharmacists also play a role in disease prevention and contribute to public health through their expertise and accessibility. Medical history, medications, and lifestyle factors are reviewed to assess the patient’s health risks and provide individualized guidance on preventive measures. Pharmacists perform comprehensive medication assessments and identify potential drug interactions, adverse effects, and complications related to medication use to ensure appropriate medication therapy and optimize medication use to enhance patient well-being and prevent complications. Additionally, pharmacists collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, engaging in interdisciplinary conversations that provide valuable insights into patient care. This collaboration ensures disease prevention and is handled in a comprehensive manner. Pharmacists educate patients about chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), and emphasize lifestyle modifications such as diet, exercise, and stress reduction to prevent disease progression. Routine assessments and early intervention are key components of their prevention strategy. In addition, pharmacists administer immunizations, promote preventable immunizations, and educate patients on vaccination programs and concerns. Their active participation in health campaigns and advocacy efforts emphasize disease prevention as a priority. In summary, community pharmacists are accessible, knowledgeable allies in disease prevention, and extend their role beyond dispensing medicine to actively support healthy communities.

Case Studies or Examples

Through the provision of smoking cessation services in communities, pharmacists were found to play a significant influence in helping smokers quit in a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Nigeria in 2016. Specifically, they located smokers in the neighborhood, conducted successful therapy sessions, gave out prescription drugs to treat tobacco addiction, and followed up with the smokers. Additionally, they were recognized as key educators on "World No Tobacco Day," a significant health event that raised awareness of the fatal and damaging consequences of tobacco usage.

After completing a smoking cessation training program, pharmacists started offering counseling and medication therapy to Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) patients on September 1, 2011, as part of the Ministry of Health's pharmacy-based smoking cessation program.

The Asheville Project was started in 1997 by the City of Asheville, North Carolina, and offers personal supervision and instruction to city workers who have long-term health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or high cholesterol. Pharmacists created successful patient care programs in their community pharmacies as a result of this initiative.

Through the Diabetes Ten City Challenge (DTCC), which is run by the APhA Foundation with funding from GlaxoSmithKline, pharmacists can assist patients in managing their diabetes by lowering healthcare costs and enhancing accepted standards of diabetes care.

A program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination is a partnership of the Federal Government, States and Territories, 21 National Pharmacy Partners, and Independent Pharmacy Networks Nationwide. By working together, pharmacists have boosted vaccination rates and enhanced public health by providing travel, pneumonia, and flu shots, among other immunization services.

Pharmacists now have the chance to offer patients mental health care thanks to the Canadian Pharmacists' Mental Health Program. Being the most approachable medical professionals, pharmacists are essential in helping patients with mental health disorders and are frequently the initial point of contact for those who need mental health services. Pharmacists can play a significant role in promoting patients' mental health and wellness through prescription management, disease screening, addiction treatment, and resource and service navigation.

Through the creation and implementation of nutrition and wellness programs (such as The American Pharmacists Association 's Nutrition and Wellness Program), pharmacists have improved patient outcomes by lowering adverse drug events and enhancing medication adherence. They have also improved medication therapy management through "The Medication Therapy Management Program.”

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists' critical role in disease prevention and health promotion was highlighted, with health promotion being viewed as an essential component of pharmacy education and practice. The pandemic also made clear how important it is for pharmacists to keep up their efforts to promote health and deal with health-related concerns in our communities. Pharmacists must keep encouraging disease prevention and enabling individuals to be more aware of their health and well-being. In order to promote health and prevent disease, pharmacists are ideally positioned to provide healthcare in a comprehensive and all-encompassing manner. These community-based practices give them the chance to interact with patients and solve health issues, and they are typically at the forefront of community health programs. In addition to being leaders in the creation and promotion of public health policies, pharmacists are able to counsel patients and guarantee that health policies meet their needs because they are specialists in medication administration and therapy.

Having stated that, pharmacists deserve to be acknowledged and supported for their contributions to disease prevention and health promotion.

Article by:

Esther Ekine – Chairperson of the IVPN Student External Relations Committee

Malak Ibrahim - LIU-IVPN Student Club Member