Abstract
Asthma is one of the most common chronic, non-communicable diseases affecting children worldwide. The estimated prevalence of pediatric asthma in Iraq is 15.8%. Physiologic, inflammatory and structural factors contribute to the development of asthma. Assessment and monitoring of asthma control can be done by a validated children asthma control test (CACT). Management of asthma must address three components which are an appropriate management plan, the most appropriate medication if necessary, and the use of safe and effective medication. The management plan should consider patient counseling and education about the definition of asthma, signs, and symptoms, the pathophysiology of asthma, common triggers for asthma and how can avoid them, what are the rescue medication and the controller one, proper inhaler techniques, and how to monitor asthma control. Patient education accounts for 90% of success and this can be achieved by an active collaboration among health care providers. This is a prospective interventional study that aims at evaluating pharmacist counseling for asthmatic children. The study involved 105 participants whose consent was taken and underwent a face-to-face interview about asthma counseling and inhaler technique for those who use it. Ninety-two eligible participants remained. Their CACT was recorded at the first visit and then followed up weekly for one month either by phone or physical to assess asthma control. In the fourth week, a CACT was recorded and compared to the first one before intervention. There was a significant improvement in CACT after providing the counselling and weekly follow up.
Highlights
Asthma is one of the commonest chronic non-communicable diseases of the lower respiratory tract in children [1]
There was a significant (P-value< 0.05) increment in the Asthma Control Test (ACT)\childhood asthma control test (C-ACT) score after pharmacist counseling to the asthmatic children or their parents about asthma definition, symptoms, types of medication, the proper use of asthma inhalers, and other educational information related to asthma. (Figure 4)
There was a significant difference in the increment in ACT\C-ACT scores due to the pharmacist intervention according to the person who received the counseling (Figure 5)
Summary
Experience of irritant allergen and subside in response to bronchodilators or anti-inflammatory therapy [4]. A face-to-face interview taking about 10 minutes was conducted either with children aged 1218 years old or the parents for those whose age is 211 years old to collect data by a sheet especially designed for the study which contains four aspects: patients' data; asthma characteristics; inhaler devices technique checklist; weekly follow-up checklist; and ACT\C-ACT score. The participants or their parents were assessed roughly by the interventional pharmacist for their knowledge about asthma by simple questions (e.g. asthma definition, causes, types of medication, etc.) This assessment provides a good insight into the extent of asthma counseling to be given to them in a 15-minute interview. There was a significant (P-value< 0.05) increment in the ACT\C-ACT score after pharmacist counseling to the asthmatic children or their parents about asthma definition, symptoms, types of medication, the proper use of asthma inhalers, and other educational information related to asthma. There was a significant difference in the increment in ACT\C-ACT scores due to the pharmacist intervention according to the person who received the counseling (child vs parent) (Figure 5)
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