Table 3.
Screened participant comments from the open-ended question on the participant surveys (quotes indicate investigation group and referred/not referred)
| Theme | Sub-theme | Number of comments (N = 344 coded comments) N (%) | Example quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Views on the community pharmacy | Accessibility | 20 (5.8) |
No appointment needed it appeared…which worked for me but may be difficult for others when approached to take test when they were dropping off or picking up prescriptions. (B, non-referral) Might be more convenient for some people rather than making an appointment at the doctors. (C, non-referral) |
| Professional | 19 (5.5) | The pharmacist is so friendly and helpful. I was a bit anxious at the start, but he reassured me that I was going to be okay. He is very professional and resourceful. (B, non-referral) | |
| Advertise | 9 (2.6) | This service should be more widely advertised, I think it's an excellent idea and very convenient (B, non-referral) | |
| Widen screening to more people | 7 (2.0) | Screening should not be just for people who look like they might need screening. Everyone needs to be screened or engaged to discuss healthy lifestyle, as a preventative course of action in the longer term. (A, non-referral) | |
| Feedback on Sthe service | Supportive of the service | 66 (19.2) |
I think chemists are very important in the community as they can hold all the threads together. I have not been to see a GP as I do not have one, I like/trust. A lot of doctors here in XXX have their books closed. (A, referral) A good service for those who never see a GP for a check-up. (C, non-referral) |
| Useful service | 75 (21.8) |
It is a good educational tool and motivational tool. Having someone tell you out loud that you are at risk of diabetes, and it would be helpful to lose weight is motivational. For example, I have been thinking about losing weight for a long time, and little bit of extra push is always helpful. (A, referral) It was a good kick up the bum to how my health is going. (C, non-referral) This is a very good, easy to access, especially for Seniors. We don't want to negotiate buses or trams to get it done. It gives you lots of information one wouldn't usually think about, right in your daily routine. (A, non-referral) |
|
| Lack of an actual test | 16 (4.7) | I think it was a waste of time to ask me questions about my health and family history and then not give me a test because I was unlikely to need it. It was no better than a magazine or Facebook quiz. It fell well short of what I consider 'screening'. (C, non-referral) | |
| Not satisfied | 13 (3.8) | Pharmacists have not been trained and are therefore unqualified to practice medicine in this way. Dangerous. (C, non-referral) | |
| No need for the service | 11 (3.2) | This test was not something I feel I really needed as I am a pretty healthy, active person (B, non-referral) | |
| Waste of money/resources | 4 (1.2) | I did it because I was in a small pharmacy waiting for scripts and would have felt obvious and rude if I didn't participate. I learned nothing and felt it was a total waste of time (though no criticism for how it was handled by the pharmacy staff, who were perfectly pleasant). Perhaps the screen is useful for high-risk ppl, but I am not! I came up with a score of zero, and I could have told you that before it started. Total waste of resources. (B, non-referral) | |
| Changes made as a result of the service | No changes needed | 56 (16.3) | Disturbingly, the pharmacist said I was the only person she had seen who had produced a 'green' result. Therefore, I didn't feel the need to make any changes to what I am already doing. (A, non-referral) |
| Made changes | 8 (2.3) | Family history so I was expecting this. I am now on insulin and tablets. (B, referral) | |
| Role of the GP in screening | 40 (11.6) |
My doctor informed me it was unnecessary for me to take a Diabetes test, as he screens my blood every 6 months & keeps an eye on my health. He was very annoyed with me for having the test, as I do not have Diabetes, & he would have informed me if I did have the condition. (A, referral) I feel your doctor should be checking this when regular blood tests are done (B, referral) |
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