How community pharmacies can raise uterine cancer awareness among women from ethnic minority populations

OBJECTIVES: Community pharmacies are a potential route to reach underserved groups due to their locations and staff, who often reflect the diversity of the populations they serve. This study aimed to explore the potential for a uterine cancer awareness campaign encouraging earlier presentation of red-flag symptoms among ethnic minority women conducted through community pharmacies. METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with pharmacy staff to explore the role of the pharmacy in cancer awareness, the impact of language and cultural sensitives on discussions, and signposting for red-flag symptoms using a pre-designed interview schedule. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Fifteen pharmacy staff (pharmacists, technicians, and managers) working in a variety of clinical settings participated in an interview. The identified themes were: diversity and demographics; the community and its pharmacy; and women's health. Although all participants reported low awareness of uterine cancer and its red-flag symptoms, they saw the potential for pharmacies to reach women in their communities and identified the need for formal standardized training to ensure accuracy knowledge dissemination. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown the potential of community pharmacies to address cancer inequities through culturally tailored, co-designed interventions. However, structured staff education, ensuring the accuracy of information disseminated, and formal signposting or pathways for symptomatic patients would be needed to enable timely onward referral for investigation.