Abstract
Background Inhalation therapy is the main treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Owing to the poor inhaler technique in using inhalers, we assessed the effect of a multidimensional pharmaceutical care on inhalation technique in patients with asthma and COPD. Materials and Methods A 3-month controlled parallel-group study was undertaken in asthma and COPD patients using dry powder inhalers (DPIs). Patients in the intervention group received multidimensional pharmaceutical care, including establishment of a special dispensing window, face-to-face demonstration and education, brochure education, videos education, online consultation and education, and follow-up reeducation. Patients in the control group received usual pharmaceutical care. The inhaler technique score, correctness of inhaler usage, beliefs about medicines questionnaire (BMQ) score, asthma control test (ACT), and COPD assessment test (CAT) were measured pre- and postintervention. Quality of life improvement evaluated according to score changes of ACT in asthma and CAT in COPD and patient satisfaction were measured postintervention. Results 259 patients finished the study with 133 in the intervention group and 126 in the control group. Compared to preintervention and control group postintervention, the inhaler technique score, correctness of inhaler usage, and ACT score significantly increased in the intervention group postintervention, while the BMQ score and CAT score decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Significant improvements in quality of life and patient satisfaction were found (P < 0.05). Conclusion This study showed the multidimensional pharmaceutical care for asthma and COPD patients were effective in improving inhalation technique. By providing pharmaceutical care, pharmacists might help asthma and COPD patients to acquire better quality of life.
Highlights
Respiratory diseases are the main causes of high morbidity and mortality worldwide [1], while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become one of the leading causes of death in China
A total of 272 patients were enrolled at baseline, and 259 patients completed the study after a 3-month follow-up (9 lost to followup in the intervention group and 4 lost to follow-up in the control group)
Discussion is study identified a multidimensional pharmaceutical care based on inhalation technique training and education resulted in a positive effect, and the results showed that the
Summary
Respiratory diseases are the main causes of high morbidity and mortality worldwide [1], while COPD has become one of the leading causes of death in China. Studies [1, 5, 6] indicated that incorrect techniques were inevitable in common use of inhalers, which could lead to poor treatment outcome and disease control [5, 7, 8]. Inhalation therapy is the main treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Owing to the poor inhaler technique in using inhalers, we assessed the effect of a multidimensional pharmaceutical care on inhalation technique in patients with asthma and COPD. E inhaler technique score, correctness of inhaler usage, beliefs about medicines questionnaire (BMQ) score, asthma control test (ACT), and COPD assessment test (CAT) were measured pre- and postintervention. Is study showed the multidimensional pharmaceutical care for asthma and COPD patients were effective in improving inhalation technique. Pharmacists might help asthma and COPD patients to acquire better quality of life
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