Asthma Patient Care: The Pharmacist’s Perspective

Rana Rasheed  Farrag; Mamdouh Ahmed  Zaki; Taher  El-Naggar; Manal  El-Hamamsy

doi:10.4236/pp.2014.56065

Journals by Subject

Journals by Title

PP Vol.5 No.6 , June 2014

Asthma Patient Care: The Pharmacist’s Perspective

Rana Rasheed Farrag^*, Mamdouh Ahmed Zaki, Taher El-Naggar, Manal El-Hamamsy

Abstract: Aim of the Study: To compare effect of asthma care by pharmacist intervention versus routine care on asthma control. Patients and Methods: A 2-month randomised, controlled trial was conducted in outpatient clinics of Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. Patients were randomly assigned to receive routine care or a pre-defined pharmacist intervention. This intervention was mainly focused on patient education, improving inhalation technique and medication assessment. Primary outcome was the level of asthma control, as assessed by the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). Results: By the end of the study, intervention patients who received a written action plan significantly improved their ACQ results than routine care group who did not receive a plan (p < 0.0001). Inhalation technique and adherence to controller medication were significantly better in the intervention group. Conclusion: The present study results provide supportive evidence concerning pharmacists’ favourable effects on asthma patient care and support pharmacists as valuable members of the health care team.

Keywords: Asthma Control Questionnaire, Asthma Action Plan, Patient Education, Adherence, Inhalation Technique

Cite this paper: Farrag, R. , Zaki, M. , El-Naggar, T. and El-Hamamsy, M. (2014) Asthma Patient Care: The Pharmacist’s Perspective. Pharmacology & Pharmacy, 5, 551-559. doi: 10.4236/pp.2014.56065.

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