Hypertension care: the knowledge and attitudes of the community pharmacists.

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a major global risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. In Greece, prevalence is about 40%, with many cases undiagnosed or poorly managed. While doctors remain central to diagnosis and treatment, community pharmacists, as accessible healthcare professionals, can support early detection and ongoing management. This study assesses Greek community pharmacists' knowledge of hypertension detection and management, focusing on their ability to measure blood pressure accurately, categorise hypertension, and understand lifestyle factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 92 community pharmacists in Greece, using a structured questionnaire to assess knowledge of blood pressure measurement, hypertension categorisation, and lifestyle influences. The instrument collected demographic data and responses on hypertension management practices. Data were gathered between December 2022 and April 2023 and analysed using SPSS v22.

Results: The survey revealed moderate to good knowledge levels among pharmacists, particularly in blood pressure measurement (mean score: 71.74%, SD = 16.08) and hypertension categorisation (mean score: 76.9%, SD = 8.48). Knowledge about lifestyle impacts on blood pressure was lower (mean score: 53.57%, SD = 15.65). Younger pharmacists (26 36 years old) demonstrated significantly higher lifestyle impact knowledge (p = 0.013) and overall knowledge scores (p = 0.012) compared to the rest of the age groups, whereas pharmacists with postgraduate degrees had significantly higher scores in blood pressure measurement (p = 0.009) and overall knowledge scores (p = 0.002) compared to those with only a tertiary education.

Conclusion: Findings underscore early undergraduate training and continuous professional development to strengthen pharmacists' hypertension-management role. Targeted programmes should deepen understanding of lifestyle determinants. Greek community pharmacists are well positioned for early detection within multidisciplinary care, yet more education is needed to optimise impact. The Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association and Federation of Cooperative Pharmacists of Greece advocate recognising pharmacists' role in structured, advanced services, including hypertension management, to improve public health in Greece.