KUMJ | VOL. 24 | NO. 1 | ISSUE 94 | JANUARY - MARCH, 2026

Availability of Point-of-care Testing Diagnostic Devices and Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice for Screening of Cholesterol in Community Pharmacies in Kathmandu Metropolitan City
Chaudhary P, Bhujel R, Shahukhal S, Shrestha S, KC B

Abstract:
Background Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global mortality. Elevated blood cholesterol is a major modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Community pharmacies are accessible primary healthcare providers and can offer onsite cholesterol screening through point-of-care testing devices. Effective cholesterollowering interventions require adequate knowledge of cholesterol testing, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and a positive attitude toward cholesterol screening. Objective To determine the availability and adoption of the point-of-care testing devices for determining blood cholesterol level in community pharmacies and assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of pharmacy professionals. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among 340 community pharmacies and their professionals in Kathmandu using a pretested questionnaire to assess Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice related to cholesterol screening. Data were analyzed descriptively and presented as frequencies and percentages. Result Overall, 63.7% of pharmacy professionals demonstrated adequate knowledge of cholesterol and its association with cardiovascular diseases. Only 9.1% of community pharmacies had adopted point-of-care testing devices for cholesterol screening, while 52.1% of professionals expressed willingness to receive training in cholesterol meter use. Academic qualification and age were significantly associated with Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice regarding cholesterol screening. However, 40% of participants had a negative attitude toward cholesterol screening. Conclusion Community pharmacy professionals demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of cholesterol and its impact in cardiovascular diseases. Although adoption of pointof- care testing devices was low, over half of the professionals were willing to receive training in cholesterol screening. Nonetheless, the attitude toward cholesterol screening devices was negative.
Keyword : Cardiovascular disease, Cholesterol, Community pharmacy, Point-of-Care testing