Pharmacist-Delivered Asthma Services Program Earns High Patient Ratings

Patients who participated in a community pharmacist-delivered program for asthma management gave it high ratings for overall satisfaction, delivery satisfaction, and impact, according to study findings published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.

The novel Pharmacy Asthma Services program, implemented in 3 Australian states, focused on known contributors to poor asthma control, such as inadequate medication adherence, suboptimal inhaler technique, and uncontrolled allergic rhinitis. Patients in the program engaged in a series of pharmacist-patient consultations over a 12-month period and, after the final consultation, completed a patient feedback survey.

Study authors noted that among the 101 patients who completed the program and provided feedback, 86% were very satisfied with the service. Participants credited the program with improving their understanding and management of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Some 98% of patients reported being satisfied with the pharmacist’s knowledge and ability to assist, and 91% were satisfied with the privacy in the pharmacy setting, according to results of the study.

Having controlled asthma at the program’s end was associated with a higher level of overall satisfaction and greater overall impact on management of asthma and allergic rhinitis, reported researchers.

“The positive feedback received indicates that intervention strategies and implementation methods used were acceptable,” wrote lead author Sarah Serhal, BPharm, PhD candidate, of Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, and coauthors, “and that future implementation is both possible and would be welcomed by patients with asthma across a broad range of backgrounds and communities.”

Reference:
Serhal S, Saini B, Bosnic-Anticevich S, et al. Pharmacist-delivered asthma management services—what do patients think? J Am Pharm Assoc. Published online February 14, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2022.02.009