Acceptability of pharmacy-based bone density measurement by women and primary healthcare providers

OBJECTIVES: To assess women's information sources regarding, and monetary value placed on, pharmacy-based bone density screening. In addition, we evaluated clinicians' response to peripheral bone mass measurements. DESIGN: We recruited 197 women 50 years of age or older in four rural Midwestern community pharmacies. Each woman completed a questionnaire and underwent calcaneal bone density testing. Results were sent to participants' primary care providers. These providers, and others practicing within a 50-mile radius, were surveyed anonymously to evaluate usefulness of bone density data provided by this program or pharmacy-based osteoporosis screening in general. In addition, clinicians were asked how they would manage a woman with a calcaneal T-score of -1.3. RESULTS: Fifty-six percent of participants [95% CI, 49%-63%] became interested in screening through the media, and only 6% (CI, 3%-9%) became interested through contact with their primary care provider. Women were willing to pay a median of $25 for screening. Of 18 responding clinicians with patients in this study, 72% (CI, 47%-90%) found the results useful. Of the 67 responding clinicians, 51% (CI, 39%-63%) supported pharmacy-based bone mass measurement. For a case scenario of a woman with a calcaneal T-score of -1.3, 57% (CI, 46%-68%) of clinicians indicated that they would have ordered central dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and 20% (CI, 11%-29%) would have prescribed antiresorptive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that (1) women are an important force in obtaining bone density testing outside the clinic setting, both by self-education and willingness to pay, and (2) primary care clinicians receiving such results find them useful and indicate willingness to use them in decision-making.