Evidence-Based Pharmacist Care Skills and Competencies: Health Screening and Disease Prevention

Pharmacists play a critical role in health screening and disease prevention by leveraging their accessibility, clinical expertise, and trusted relationships with patients. This chapter outlines how pharmacists contribute to early detection and proactive management of diseases through point-ofcare testing, risk assessment, vaccination, medication therapy management, and lifestyle counseling. Emphasis is placed on the broad range of competencies required for evidence-based care, including clinical knowledge, communication, informatics, patient-centered care, interprofessional collaboration, and policy advocacy. The chapter also provides comprehensive recommendations to enhance these competencies through continuous professional education, hands-on training, skill development, quality improvement, research, and digital health integration. By embracing these strategies, pharmacists can expand their role in preventive healthcare, improve population health outcomes, and reduce the burden of preventable diseases.