Page 107 - GHES-1-2

Global Health Econ Sustain

REPORT
Assessing chronic community health needs

through a pharmacy improvement project

1
2
Ciardi Sassone Samantha *, Primus A. Mark , and Metzger Jed 2
1 Department of Nursing, Le Moyne College, Syracuse, New York, USA
2 Department of Social Work, Nazareth University, Rochester, New York, USA

Abstract

Assessing community health needs is essential for providing comprehensive nursing
care. This paper reported the usage of pharmacy supply over a 3-month period
in Riverton, Jamaica. During the data collection process, we tracked the use of
supplies and medications within the Riverton community during that timeframe.
The findings we obtained from this quality improvement project reinforced the
observations from the initial windshield survey/tour, which indicated that there are
numerous unaddressed chronic health conditions within this community. Tracking
pharmacy supply usage can be an alternative approach to conducting a windshield
survey/tour. Therefore, these approaches can be employed in other communities to
yield accurate data on chronic health conditions within a community.

Academic editor:
Mihajlo Jakovljevic M.D. Ph.D. MAE Keywords: Community health; Chronic conditions; Windshield tour; Pharmacy
*Corresponding author:
Samantha Ciardi Sassone
(sassons@lemoyne.edu) 1. Introduction
Citation: Ciardi Sassone, S.,
Primus M.A., Metzger, J. (2023). Comprehensive assessment has always been the first step in delivering nursing care.
Assessing chronic community Community health assessments have historically taken place through windshield tours
health needs through a pharmacy
improvement project. Global Health (McGuirt et al., 2011). This approach enables nurses to survey the population they serve,
Econ Sustain, 1(2): 1030. allowing them to identify community needs and formulate appropriate interventions.
https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1030 However, access to primary care, medical providers, and pharmacologic agents is not a
Received: June 1, 2023 basic right, especially in poverty-stricken areas like Kingston, Jamaica.
Accepted: August 14, 2023 The community of Riverton is located in the parish of St. Andrew and is home to
Published Online: September 22, approximately 3000 people who face daily struggles to meet their basic needs (Junior
2023 Rowe, personal communication [March 12, 2022]). Each year, the community hosts a
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). health fair in conjunction with the University of West Indies to provide primary care
This is an Open Access article services to the residents of Riverton. These residents who need medical care services
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution outside of these pre-established treatment dates must navigate access to local hospitals,
License, permitting distribution, often hindered by barriers like lack of transportation and inadequate money to pay for
and reproduction in any medium, prescriptions.
provided the original work is
properly cited. A school in Riverton is the heart of the local community. It not only serves as an
Publisher’s Note: AccScience educational center for children aged 3 – 10 but also as the local hub of communication.
Publishing remains neutral with In addition, when the small attached pharmacy is open at the school, it provides a venue
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional for receiving medical services. Originally intended to cater primarily to ill children
affiliations. during school hours, the pharmacy swiftly transitioned to accommodate other members

Volume 1 Issue 2 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1030