Care Pharmacy Research Articles

MMR vaccines should be delivered through community pharmacy, says health and social care committee chair

MMR vaccines should be delivered through community pharmacy, says health and social care committee chair

A Baby Step Toward Planetary Health: A Collaborative Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in a Pharmacy and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

A Baby Step Toward Planetary Health: A Collaborative Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in a Pharmacy and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The role of pharmacists in the detection and referral of patients with unmet psychosocial care needs: lessons from a Flemish collaboration between community pharmacy and psychosocial work

Community pharmacists are highly accessible care providers who are well-embedded in the community and usually have a close relationship with their patients. This places them in a good position to detect unmet psychosocial needs and refer patients to the psychosocial care services in their neighborhood. Therefore, a collaboration between community pharmacists and a psychosocial care organization was set up in Flanders (BE) to explore the potential role of pharmacists in the detection and referral of patients with psychosocial needs. The aim is to reach a patient population with (unmet) psychosocial needs, such as mental health problems, financial issues, family problems, substance abuse, domestic violence,... There is special attention to vulnerable groups. These needs are captured during patient visits to a community pharmacy for standard care. Pharmacists were trained by an e-learning in the topic of psychosocial wellbeing to detect unmet needs, talk about personal problems and how to help and refer these patients.
 This project is named #CAVAsa and is a collaboration between the Flemish network of pharmacists (VAN), the Flemish centers for general wellbeing (CAW) and the universities of Antwerp and Leuven. All parties worked together through all stages of the project. Sponsoring is provided by the Flemish Government. The project is currently running, and a total of 200 pharmacists are participating. Quantitative data are collected through an online registration form filled in by pharmacists. Collection started in July 2022 and is still running untill January 2023. Physical meetings were held as well to share experiences between pharmacists and the social workers and to provide extra support if needed.
 Since the start of the registration in July 2022 until today, a total of 160 patient contacts were registered in which psychosocial wellbeing was discussed. More details about the nature of these contacts will be available at the moment of the conference. During focus group discussions prior to this data collection, pharmacists indicated that they are willing to take up this role because patient wellbeing and personal assistance are key values of community pharmacy. It can be concluded that structural collaborations between community pharmacy and psychosocial care are very valuable and should be further supported. #CAVAsa is a good example of integrated care in which a whole person approach is supported, as it targets not only mental health care needs, but also broader social needs such as poverty and loneliness.
 Evaluation of the quantitative data is planned for January 2023. Results will be discussed during a multidisciplinary closing conference in which all stakeholders will be involved. After this evaluation, it is our goal to further expand this initiative to all of Flanders and make the collaboration between pharmacists and social workers more sustainable.

The burden of an identity: Coping strategies for sexual and gender minority individuals in pharmacy practice.

Sexual or gender minority (SGM) individuals are known to experience stigma and discrimination in pharmacy settings. It is also known that SGM individuals may delay or avoid care in pharmacies due to the stress associated with these experiences. Aside from avoidance, however, little is known about how SGM individuals cope with stigma and discrimination and how their coping strategies may influence their healthcare behaviors. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize how SGM individuals cope with stigma and discrimination associated with their SGM identity in pharmacy settings. This was a qualitative study conducted using semistructured interviews. A total of 31 SGM individuals were recruited across 2 Canadian provinces. Interviews followed a topic guide designed according to the minority stress model to elicit participants' lived experiences in community pharmacies. Thematic analysis was used to identify and interpret themes. Five themes were identified that described coping strategies used by SGM individuals when encountering minority stress processes in pharmacy settings: avoidance (avoiding or withdrawing from care), seeking support (from people or settings), perseverance (when faced with no other option), concealment (of SGM identity), and lowering expectations (of pharmacist knowledge and competence). Our findings support the notion that individuals cope in different ways and across a wide spectrum of behaviors. Those who avoid care, conceal their SGM identity, or are forced to persevere through interactions may be at increased risk for both physical and mental health disparities. Those who seek support or lower expectations may also be at risk for reduced access to quality care.

Delayed and Forgone Health Care Among Adults With Limited English Proficiency During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic.

Individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) have long faced barriers in navigating the health care system. More information is needed to understand whether their care was limited further during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic. To assess the impact of English proficiency on delayed and forgone health care during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of National Health Interview Survey data (July-December 2020; n=16,941). Outcomes were self-reported delayed and forgone health care because of cost or the COVID-19 pandemic. Delayed health care included medical, dental, mental health, and pharmacy care. Forgone health care also included care at home from a health professional. A greater percentage of LEP adults reported delayed (49%) and forgone (41%) health care than English-proficient adults (40% and 30%, respectively). However, English proficiency was not significantly associated with delayed or forgone health care, after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors. Among LEP adults, multivariate models showed that being uninsured, having a disability, and having chronic conditions increased the risk of delaying and forgoing health care. LEP adults of Asian race and Hispanic ethnicity were also more likely to forgo health care while those with 65+ years were less likely to forgo health care. Adults with LEP were more likely to experience challenges accessing health care early in the pandemic. Delayed and forgone health care were explained by low socioeconomic status and poor health. These findings highlight how during a period of limited health resources, deficiencies in the health care system resulted in an already disadvantaged group being at greater risk of inequitable access to care.

The Impact of Interdisciplinary Collaboration on Patient Care in Pharmacy, Administration, Psychology, Radiology, and Nursing

The impact of interdisciplinary collaboration on patient care in various fields such as pharmacy, administration, psychology, radiology, and nursing cannot be overstated. The integration of knowledge and expertise from these diverse disciplines has significantly improved the quality of care provided to patients, leading to better health outcomes and overall patient satisfaction. One of the key benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration is the ability to bring together different perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. In a healthcare setting, this can be particularly valuable as it allows for a more comprehensive understanding of a patient's needs and challenges. The value of interdisciplinary collaboration lies in its ability to leverage the unique expertise and perspectives of professionals from different fields, thereby fostering a more holistic and comprehensive approach to problem-solving. Interdisciplinary collaboration has the potential to generate fresh perspectives and comprehension across boundaries between disciplines. Multidisciplinary study that is new can cross borders of disciplines to address complex and referred to as vicious issues facing culture.

Evolution of economic burden of heart failure by ejection fraction in newly diagnosed patients in Spain

ObjectiveTo describe healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs, in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure (HF) according to ejection fraction (EF) in Spain.MethodsRetrospective cohort study that analyzed anonymized, integrated and computerised medical records in Spain. Patients with ≥ 1 new HF diagnosis between January 2013 and September 2019 were included and followed-up during a 4-year period. Rates per 100 person-years of HCRU and costs were estimated.ResultsNineteen thousand nine hundred sixty-one patients were included, of whom 43.5%, 26.3%, 5.1% and 25.1% had HF with reduced, preserved, mildly reduced and unknown EF, respectively. From year 1 to 4, HF rates of outpatient visits decreased from 1149.5 (95% CI 1140.8–1159.3) to 765.5 (95% CI 745.9–784.5) and hospitalizations from 61.7 (95% CI 60.9–62.7) to 15.7(14.7–16.7) per 100 person-years. The majority of HF-related healthcare resource costs per patient were due to hospitalizations (year 1–4: 63.3–38.2%), followed by indirect costs (year 1–4: 12.2–29.0%), pharmacy (year 1–4: 11.9–19.9%), and outpatient care (year 1–4: 12.6–12.9%). Mean (SD) per patient HF-related costs decreased from 2509.6 (3518.5) to 1234.6 (1534.1) Euros (50% cost reduction). At baseline, 70.1% were taking beta-blockers, 56.3% renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, 11.8% mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and 8.9% SGLT2 inhibitors. At 12 months, these numbers were 72.3%, 65.4%, 18.9% and 9.8%, respectively.ConclusionsAlthough the economic burden of HF decreased over time since diagnosis, it is still substantial. This reduction could be partially related to a survival bias (sick patients died early), but also to a better HF management. Despite that, there is still much room for improvement.

Z historie libereckých lékáren do počátku 19. století

The article provides an overview of the history of pharmacies in Liberec during its golden age until the beginning of the 19th century, when pharmacists still obtained training for the profession by mere artisanal education. It notes the position of the pharmacist in the health care system and its administration, property law matters and the operation of pharmacies in the course of changing social conditions. He expands the existing knowledge on the basis of the research of archival sources and scientifi c literature. It moves the beginnings of direct pharmacy care in Reichenberg/Liberec to 1580s, when it was provided by the Zittau (Germany) pharmacy. The oldest pharmacy on the territory of today‘s Liberec was established at the end of the 16th century in the local castle and existed until 1645. The fi rst burgher‘s pharmacy was short-lived and operated only between years 1619–1625. Only from the end of the 1670s can we trace a complete line of pharmacists, they did not come from Bohemia until 1716. Their successors have been documented since 1726 as graduates of the pharmacy exam at the Prague Medical Faculty. But between 1745 and 1786 it was in disarray and only stabilized gradually and permanently with the settlement of pharmacists and their families in the city. In 1803, the oldest pharmacy in Liberec moved to No. 1-III on today‘s Dr. E. Beneš Square. The second pharmacy established in 1792 found a new location nearby in 1810 at No. 4-IV. Only these pharmacies served the town and its surroundings until the third pharmacy opened in 1873 and operated until 1950.

Embedding Pharmacist Prescribing into Undergraduate Pharmacist Education: A Qualitative Analysis of Student and Stakeholder Perspectives

Abstract Introduction From 2026 onwards, upon passing the registration exam, all pharmacy students will become independent prescribers (IP), with the aim of maximising the diagnostic and therapeutic skillset of all pharmacist graduates. As a result of this, pharmacy undergraduate education requires a shift in curriculum design to align with the change in direction the profession demands. Research is required to ascertain the needs of the local workforce to identify how the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) course needs to change to future proof the pharmacy workforce and prepare them to independently prescribe. The GPhC new standards for pharmacist prescribing act as a scaffold for the structure of the course, but individual institutions have a level of freedom in curriculum design. Aim To identify the skills, knowledge and best pedagogical approaches required by key stakeholders in the local workforce, to develop an undergraduate prescribing programme for pharmacy students in a North-East England University Pharmacy School. Methods Two focus groups were conducted, one with key educational stakeholders in the North-East of England (Hospital, Primary Care and Academic Leaders in Pharmacy) and one with current MPharm students attending Newcastle University. Participants were selected via convenience sampling. Each group had n=5 participants. Data were recorded and transcribed, then analysed using thematic analysis in NVivo 12 to draw out key themes to consider when redesigning the MPharm curriculum. The project was granted ethical approval by Newcastle University’s Ethics Committee on 27/09/22, Reference 25121/2022. Results Five key themes were derived, with several overlapping across both groups. Themes identified: course content, teaching methods, assessment methods, current level of practice, and barriers to implementation. Within these themes, the key areas where stakeholders and students felt more training was required were identified as; diagnostic skills, mental health, dealing with patients with comprehension difficulties and dealing with complex decisions. The ways in which best to deliver this content were found to be through placement and seminars, also with students notably enjoying problem-based learning (PBL). Issues with hospitals having the capacity to provide adequate placement time for all students was a key concern amongst the stakeholders and was recognised as a key barrier to implementation of enhanced education in the future. Regarding digitalisation of teaching, students expressed a dislike for online delivery of content, but could see the benefits in teaching of emerging technology. However, it was ultimately felt that technology could not replace real-life experience. OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations) were recognised as the best way to assess prescribing ability, however further modifications could be made to make them more specific to independent prescribing. Discussion/Conclusion Stakeholders and students felt the current programme should place greater emphasis on diagnostic skills and complex patient scenarios, with specific focus on people with additional needs such as autism. Additional awareness of the diversity of patients and how this affects prescribing decisions also was raised as a pertinent consideration. Limitations of this research include the small sample size of participants, which limits generalisability of opinions contributed. This was due to lack of recruitment time as a result of project time constraints.

The substantiation of the role of a clinical pharmacist in preventing antibiotic resistance

Aim. To study the role of a clinical pharmacist in overcoming antibiotic resistance in healthcare institutions that provide both primary (outpatient) and specialized (inpatient) medical care.
 Materials and methods. The research materials were the Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 1513 of 23.08.2023 “The rational use of antibacterial and antifungal drugs for therapeutic and preventive purposes”. Such methods as analysis, synthesis, grouping, formal-dogmatic, logical-semantic, ascent from abstract to concrete, historical, comparative, systematic, graphic ones were used.
 Results. According to the results of the analysis of the new standard of medical care “The rational use of antibacterial and antifungal drugs for therapeutic and preventive purposes”, it can be noted that clinical pharmacists are responsible for promoting, managing and optimizing the use of antimicrobial drugs. It is the level of professional training, qualification and experience in working with infectious diseases that allow clinical pharmacists to be leaders of programs to combat antibiotic resistance.
 Conclusions. According to the provisions of the Standard, the clinical pharmacist should be in close cooperation with the doctor through counseling. An important aspect of preventing complications of antibacterial pharmacotherapy and developing antibiotic resistance is a retrospective audit of antibacterial drug prescriptions performed by a clinical pharmacist. Taking into account the above, in our opinion, it will be rational to include the elements of practical training on prospective counseling and retrospective audit of the use of antibacterial agents in the working program of “Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care” for applicants of higher education of the educational and professional program “Clinical Pharmacy”.

The interventions to improve medication adherence in coronary heart disease patient: A systematic review.

The clinical outcome and quality of life of CHD patients are greatly influenced by medication adherence. Non-adherence of CHD patients to treatment results in sub-optimal clinical outcomes and increasing costs. This study aims to describe effectiveness of the intervention to improve the medication adherence in CHD patients. Systematic review methodology was used in this study. Scopus and PubMed were used to search the relevant article systematically. The outcome measured was medication adherence in coronary heart disease patients. Final screening was 31 articles that met the inclusion criteria in this study of 788 articles. Selection processes the article used the PRISMA guideline. Most of the articles (15 articles) use interventions that utilize information technology (IT) as known with m-health in the form of text messages, website, and smartphone-based applications in increasing medication adherence in CHD patients. The non m-health interventions developed are in the form of self-efficacy programs, monitoring and education by health workers or care workers, pharmacy care by clinical pharmacists, and the use of drugs in the form of multi-capsules. The results of most intervention with m-health can improve the medication adherence in CHD patient effectively. Education and motivation program by professional health care and multi-capsules also increasing the medication adherence in the intervention control. There was a decrease of medication adherence in some articles with long time follow-up that can be attention for the professional health care to manage the patient adherent. The medication adherence in CHD patient can be improve by various program. Modification of m-health and non m-health intervention can be resolved to increase the communication, motivation, and knowledge about medication adherence in CHD patients.

Abstract 14758: Using Interprofessional Continuing Education to Identify and Address Knowledge and Practice Gaps Regarding Lipoprotein(a) as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor

Introduction: High levels of Lp(a) are an independent and casual risk factor for ASCVD, though there is a lack of standardization of assays, guidelines, and targeted treatments. Hypothesis/Goals: To provide a dynamic, expert-led interprofessional continuing education (IPCE) activity for cardiologists, primary care (PC) clinicians, and pharmacists to educate on evolving standards in the assessment and management of Lp(a) as a CV risk factor. Methods: Vindico Medical Education provided a 2-day IPCE webinar on February 11 and 25, 2023. Baseline knowledge and behaviors, educational impact, and persisting perceived challenges were assessed via pre-, intra-, and post-test. Results: Complete datasets were available for 1,364 HCPs (13% cardiologists, 18% PC, 53% pharmacists, 16% other). Baseline knowledge was lowest in all cohorts regarding Lp(a) assessment vs management, and higher among cardiologists vs other professional cohorts. Low baseline knowledge translated to poor baseline competence on case-based questions, particularly regarding assessment and desirable Lp(a) levels. Additionally, only 42% of cardiologists were currently recommending Lp(a) screening for patients. Regarding management, while most were aware that PCSK9 inhibitors produced the greatest reduction in Lp(a) levels, knowledge scores regarding the use of lipid-apheresis and emerging pharmacotherapies was low (30% and 49%, respectively). Moreover, 64% on average were using statins to reduce Lp(a), despite proven benefit. Overall there was a 146% relative increase in knowledge, though the top requested topics for additional education were updates on how and in whom to offer Lp(a) screening and testing, communicating with the interprofessional care team and patient, and options for Lp(a) management, particularly as new options become available. Conclusions: Cardiology, pharmacy, and primary care clinicians who manage at elevated CV risk have inadequate knowledge regarding Lp(a) screening and management. While the IPCE provided addressed these knowledge and practice gaps, continued education is needed to facilitate practice change towards optimal patient care. As new options for screening and treatment become available, continued education is warranted.

Improvement of outpatient pharmacy through patient participation and Lean methodology

ObjectiveTo improve the quality of the dispensing process and pharmaceutical care in the Outpatient Pharmacy through patient participation and Lean methodology, and to analyse the results obtained in terms of efficiency and patient satisfaction. MethodProspective observational single-centre study. A working group was organized with the health care staff involved in outpatient care to apply Lean methodology and detect improvement opportunities. We used a focus group technique to understand the patients’ experience. The impact on patient satisfaction was measured through a mass survey mailed out in December 2019 (before introducing the main measures) and in December 2020. ResultsMore than 30 improvement actions were identified after surveying the opinions of the patients and health care staff involved. Nine actions were prioritized, which were mainly related to structural and circuit changes. Waiting times significantly improved (35% of patients waited for more than 30 minutes before the improvement actions vs 4.5% afterward). The results showed that waiting times and overall satisfaction significantly improved in the period between the two surveys. In both cases, the degree of satisfaction was higher after introducing the improvement actions. ConclusionsWe analysed the situation of our Outpatient Service and designed the most appropriate improvement actions according to the resources available. This initiative was achieved through patient participation (via a focus group and mass surveys), the participation of health care staff, and the application of Lean methodology.

Home Pharmacy Care Penyakit Tidak Menular di Samarinda

Home pharmacy care on non-contagious patients is necessary to increase the quality of therapeutic outcome. This program was done in a district in Samarinda. Participant selection was done by participating of nearest primary health facility. Permissions were given from the district and the nearest health facility. Three visitations were done for determination, education, and evaluation steps. The personal education during this program shows a positive impact on the own responsibility of self adherence under drug regimen. Generally, medical examination on blood pressure, blood glucose, and others are better after effective education of this program. Education output of this program is useful to increase patient’s adherence to drug regimen and healthy lifestyle.

Effect of Pharmaceutical Intervention in Pharmacologically Treated Hypertensive Patients-A Cluster-Randomized Clinical Trial: AFPRES-CLM Study.

Evaluate the effect of a community pharmaceutical intervention on the control of blood pressure in hypertensive patients treated pharmacologically. A cluster-randomized clinical trial of 6 months was carried out. It was conducted in the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). Sixty-three community pharmacies and 347 patients completed the study. Intervention patients received the community pharmaceutical intervention based on a protocol that addresses the individual needs of each patient related to the control of their blood pressure, which included Health Education, Pharmacotherapy Follow-up and 24 h Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement. Control patients received usual care in the community pharmacy. The pharmaceutical intervention resulted in better control of blood pressure (85.8% vs. 66.3% p < 0.001), lower use of emergencies (p = 0.002) and improvement trends in the physical components of quality of life, measured by SF-36 questionnaire, after 6 months of pharmaceutical intervention. No significant changes were observed for any of these variables in the control group. There were also detected 354 negative medication-related outcomes that were satisfactorily resolved in a 74.9% of the cases and 330 healthcare education interventions and 29 Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitorings were performed in order to increase adherence to pharmacological treatment and minimize Negative Outcomes associated with Medication and prevent medication-related problems. Community pharmaceutical intervention can increase hypertensive patients with controlled blood pressure, after 6 months, compared with usual care.

2163P Supportive care in French community pharmacies: OncoPharma certification

2163P Supportive care in French community pharmacies: OncoPharma certification

Now That Core Curriculum (Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy) are Being Revised at the Same Time, How Should Pharmacy Education be?

In recent years, the role of pharmacists has changed dramatically due to a combination of rapid developments in medicine, science and technology, along with a rapidly aging population and declining birthrate. Especially since the 1980s, these changes have been remarkable. Accordingly, in order to best prepare pharmacists, the duration of pharmacy education has been extended to six years. Further, the core curricula of all three medical faculties (medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy) will be revised concurrently, in a coordinated manner, in 2024. Pharmaceutical education should thus place more emphasis on clinical education to "know clinical practice, link what you have learned in clinical practice to drug discovery, and important to know the roles of each medical provider including patients and contribute to drug treatment and post-marketing drug development. We should be aware that pharmacy and medical care cannot be achieved through lectures alone." In designing a new pharmaceutical curriculum to meet these coming needs, it is important to have a vision looking 10 or 20 years into the future. It is necessary to know the world in which we live, as well as the role that should be played by pharmacists, to set a clear educational philosophy that includes goals to be achieved, and then to develop a curriculum to reach these, and a plan for steadily putting these goals into practice.

Centralizing Telehealth Test-to-Treat Through a Regional Clinical Contact Center: A Veterans Health Administration Pilot.

Background: This project describes a Veterans Health Administration telehealth pilot to facilitate COVID-19 oral antiviral treatment as part of the national test-to-treat (T2T) strategy. The pilot was operationalized for two pilot VA medical centers by the regional clinical contact center (CCC) for a Veteran Integrated Service Network, which offers multiple services through several virtual modalities. Methods: Nurse triage and medical provider evaluation templates were developed for the CCC to standardize clinical interventions with veteran callers reporting positive home COVID-19 test results. When veterans were determined eligible and consented to treatment with an emergency use authorization (EUA) antiviral medication, CCC providers used secure direct messaging for synchronous communication with local pharmacy services to facilitate adjudication and dispensing. Templates for pharmacy documentation and primary care follow-up monitoring were also developed and disseminated. Results: In total, 198 veterans (mean age 65 years, 89% male, 88% non-Hispanic White) were evaluated through telehealth by regional CCC providers using the T2T process and 96% were prescribed an antiviral medication. Primary care follow-up occurred in 86% of cases, a median of 3 days after the telehealth evaluation. The 30-day all-cause hospitalization rate was 1.5% and there were no deaths within 30 days of treatment initiation. Conclusions: Veterans Integrated Service Network's CCC telehealth triage and evaluation processes enabled safe EUA-compliant care delivery, improved evaluator experience and efficiency, and augmented existing EUA processes in place by front-line pharmacy and primary care teams.

Medykamenty roślinne w szlacheckich regestrach zakupów, receptach i poradnikach medycznych w XVIII wieku

Herbal medicines in noble purchase registers, prescriptions and in the medical handbooks in the 18th century “Pharmacy expenses”, prescriptions, herbariums and medical handbooks are important sources for research on the history of medicine and pharmacy. They give an idea of both the level of pharmacy and court health care, as well as cultural trends in the field of health care, which were adhered to by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s society, and which were largely based on plant products. However, these sources are often fragmented, undated and anonymous, scattered in various collections, which we are not able to attribute to specific persons. It is also worth paying attention to the herbariums and pharmacopoeia, printed in mass since the mid-17th century, which are a kind of guide for pharmacists and medics who prepared drugs and prescribed medications to their patients. In the court’s libraries we can find medical handbooks that contained easy-to-prepare recipes, usually based on popular herbs found in the country, and served as first aid pharmaceuticals. Although the phytotherapeutic knowledge of this period was still based on the works of ancient authors, it was supplemented by the information about treatment possibilities of the new raw materials of herbal and mineral origin, which was caused by Europe’s opening to new continents and wide trade exchange with Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Opportunistic screening for hypertension in the general population in Bulgaria: international society of hypertension may measurement month campaign

Cardiovascular diseases are not only the leading causes of mortality in Bulgaria but also the mortality rate is twice as high as the European Union average, so screening programmes identifying subjects with elevated blood pressure (BP) are of utmost importance. May Measurement Month (MMM) is an annual global initiative of the International Society of hypertension that began in 2017 aimed at raising awareness of high BP. Bulgaria joined the 3rd campaign of MMM in 2019 and an overview of the results of Bulgarian participation are presented in this paper. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP &amp;ge; 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP &amp;ge; 90 mm Hg or treatment for hypertension, statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. In Bulgaria, 150 screening points were set up in primary and secondary care facilities, in pharmacies, and outdoor spaces across 21 administrative districts. Out of 3678 individuals screened, 2587 participants (70.3%) had hypertension. Of 2896 participants with hypertension, 35.6% had controlled BP. Out of 1760 participants not on antihypertensive medication, 669 (38%) had elevated BP. In the case of treated individuals (n = 1918), 997 (52%) had uncontrolled hypertension. In the untreated cohort, every 4th subject had elevated BP, whilst among patients on antihypertensive medication, every second had uncontrolled BP, the worst results in terms of diagnosis and treatment are observed in men. By identifying almost two-third of the whole screened cohort with the possibility of newly diagnosed or uncontrolled hypertension, our results confirm the importance of BP screening campaigns.