Sleep disorders screening, sleep health awareness, and patient follow-up by community pharmacists in Australia

Abstract

IntroductionCommunity pharmacies are well placed to deliver education and counseling to improve sleep health. ObjectiveTo develop, implement and evaluate a pharmacist led sleep health program. MethodsParticipating pharmacists (n=23) were trained to screen, counsel and follow up patients at risk of sleep disorders. Patients were screened for specific sleep disorders, counseled, provided written information and/or referred to physicians. Patient outcomes were evaluated by questionnaire at 3 or 12 months post screening. ResultsA total of 325 patients were screened, with 142 (44%) patients at risk of one or more sleep disorders. A total of 847 interventions were recorded by pharmacists: verbal counseling (49%), written information (34%), and referrals (16%). A total of 63 patients (of 99 recalling being referred) reported acting on their referral. Positive changes were made with smoking (4%), caffeine intake (10%), alcohol intake (9%) and improved sleep environment (19%). ConclusionPharmacists can raise awareness through educating patients on sleep health, and through counseling initiate behavior change in those at risk of having or developing a sleep disorder. Practice implicationsFurther research using this feasibility study can help in understanding the utility of pharmacists screening patients for sleep disorders and educating the public in sleep health.