Pharmaceutical care for asthma patients: a community pharmacy-based pilot project

Asthma is a clinical problem with social, psychological, and economic burdens. To improve patient disease management and quality of life (QOL), different education programs have been developed. The purpose of this study is to adapt and implement a community-based educational program for patients with asthma. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was performed. Fifty individuals with mild asthma (aged 18-40 years) that have been attending pharmacies were included in the sample. The duration of the disease was 9 +/- 4.21 years. A 4-month study was conducted on essence of asthma and factors that can intensify it; nourishing facts, allergens, and physical activities; self-management and use of tobacco; and pharmacotherapy, inhalation technique, and possible adverse drug reactions. Patient's health-related QOL was assessed in the beginning and at the end of the survey. Parameters assessed during the four stages of the program were patients' peak expiratory flow (PEF); inhaler technique; severe asthma symptoms, including breathlessness, hospitalization rates, frequency of urgent medical aid calls, and frequency of general practitioner visits; compliance with therapy; and satisfaction with pharmacy services. Health-related QOL of the intervention patients was improved at 4 months and there was improvement in the PEF rate, decrease in patients' breathlessness and wheezing rate, decrease in the reported hospitalizations rate because of the disease, decrease in the physician's visits, and increase in satisfaction with pharmacist-provided information. The positive results from the educational approach show a potential to decrease asthma disease complications and show a positive impact on patients' inhaler technique, patients' opinions about the pharmacy services, and information obtained.