METHODS
Random study with pharmacists from Krakow
(Poland) and surroundings were carried out.
Information about the study and invitation for
pharmacists were done during their quarterly
meetings organized by Regional Pharmaceutical
Chamber in Krakow. As many as 95 pharmacists
from 55 community pharmacies (29 community
pharmacies and 61 pharmacists from Krakow and
26 community pharmacies and 34 pharmacists from
Krakow surroundings) signed up to participate in the
study. Randomization of community pharmacies to
control and study group was done by generation of
random numbers by computer software. The study
and the control group consisted of 28 community
pharmacies (44 pharmacists) and 27 community
pharmacies (51 pharmacists), respectively. After
randomization, the initial meeting was carried out
separately for the study and the control group. The
aim of the initial meeting was to introduce the rules
of the project and to do the initial evaluation of
knowledge and professional satisfaction of
pharmacists. Then, the cycle of trainings was
carried out (three 5-hour trainings) in October and
November (2004) only for the study group. These
trainings included detection, classification and
monitoring of drug related problems,
pathophysiology of hypertension, risk factors and
life style factors influencing the disease, and rules of
pharmacotherapy of hypertension. Trainers and
lecturers were researchers (pharmacists) and
physicians (specialists in arterial hypertension and
cardiology). At the final meeting in June 2006
pharmacists from study and control group once
again filled in the knowledge test and professional
satisfaction questionnaire. The pharmacists from
control group received the identical training cycle
(three 5-hour trainings) as study group after the final
meeting. Pharmacists in Poland are obliged to get
100 scores (every 5 years) to maintain their
professional pharmacy license. They may get
scores for participation in the professional trainings
carried out by institutions accredited by
governmental agency. In our study pharmacists in
the control group got 10 scores and pharmacists in
the study group got 15 scores.
After initial meeting and training for the study group,
pharmacists from both groups started enrolling
patients into the project. Men and women age ≥18
years with hypertension, pharmacologically treated
for at least 6 months, who are able to keep moving
independently and contact with surroundings were
included. Subjects were excluded from the study if
they had cardiovascular incident (stroke, heart
attack) within the last 6 months or a history of
diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), mental disease (depression,
schizophrenia), or they are unable to contact with
pharmacists independently. The study was
approved by local ethical board and all patients
signed out consent form.
According to pharmacists from the study group, at
least 12 meetings from November (2004) to January
(2006) should be done during which a blood
pressure should be measured using
sphygmomanometer. In addition, drug related
problems should be detected and solved and
patient should be educated about pathophysiology,
risk factors, treatment and style of life with
hypertension as well as unassisted blood pressure
measurement. During the first and the last meeting
in the community pharmacy, patient had to fill out
questionnaire evaluating his/her knowledge about
hypertension. Besides, in the last meeting, he/she
had to fill out questionnaire (SF-36) about his/her
quality of life.24,25 Pharmacists’ actions were
recorded using Microsoft Access or standard paper
forms. All needed items were provided free-ofcharge
by researchers’ team.