Community pharmacists' interventions in asthma care: a descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Respiratory Care
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited data exists on factors influencing community pharmacists' interventions specifically within asthma care.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the types and frequency of asthma care interventions performed by community pharmacists.
• To identify factors that influence the provision of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to community pharmacists registered in Quebec.
• The survey assessed pharmacists' interventions, influencing factors, and demographic characteristics.

Main Results:

• A high frequency of interventions was observed during the initial dispensing of asthma medications, with 98% providing verbal information.
• Checking for medication overuse/underuse was common (91%/85.8%), but follow-up interventions like inhalation technique reassessment were infrequent (8.4%).
• Lack of time was a significant barrier, while patient interest was a facilitator.

Conclusions:

• Community pharmacists are actively involved in initial asthma medication management but less so in ongoing follow-up care.
• Organizational factors, such as time constraints, may limit the frequency of certain interventions.