The Expanding Role of Community Pharmacists in Secondary Prevention Screening: A Scoping Review

Background: The role of community pharmacists has expanded beyond medication dispensing to encompass secondary prevention, a public health strategy aimed at early disease detection to mitigate progression, reduce complications, and decrease morbidity and mortality. Given their accessibility and frequent public interactions, community pharmacists are well-positioned to implement effective screening interventions. However, the full scope of their contributions to secondary prevention remains underexplored. Objective: This scoping review aims to identify community pharmacists-led screening strategies, evaluate their impact on patient health outcomes, examine barriers and facilitators influencing their involvement in secondary prevention, and highlight gaps in the literature to inform future research. Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR checklist, a systematic search was performed in PubMed and Scopus databases for articles published in English between 2000 and 2024. Search terms included keywords and index terms related to community pharmacy, secondary prevention, and pharmacist-led interventions. Articles were screened for eligibility based on the PCC framework: Population: Community pharmacists; Concept: Pharmacist-led screening interventions; Context: Community pharmacies. Results: A total of 236 studies were included. Findings showed that pharmacist-led screening interventions positively impacted patient outcomes through improved early detection, optimized healthcare utilization, or enhanced chronic disease management. Barriers to implementation were identified, including regulatory constraints, logistical challenges, and varying perceptions of pharmacists' roles among stakeholders. Facilitators included accessibility, community trust, and integration into multidisciplinary teams. Conclusions: Community pharmacists are essential for secondary prevention, particularly in screening interventions that improve health outcomes. Further research is needed to optimize their contributions, address barriers, and fully realize their potential.