Asthma Patients Find More Relief with Pharmacist Intervention

People who suffer from asthma benefit greatly from increased pharmacist intervention. A recent study conducted by the Academic Center in Pharmaceutical Care at the University of Granada, Spain reports that patients were three times more likely to have their asthma under control than those who were participating in the control portion of the study. The research also found that 78.5% of the participants adhered to their medication regime after 6 months when meeting regularly with a pharmacist.

Pharmacist intervention and regular monitoring can go a long way in improving a patient’s quality of life. Pharmacists can use visual demonstrations of how to use an inhaler, provide reading material for clients to examine at home on how to successfully manage their asthma symptoms, and can also use verbal instruction to ensure that any questions or concerns a client has regarding their asthma symptoms or treatment are addressed. Patient outcomes can improve with regular pharmacist appointments, including asthma symptom control, medication adherence, and symptom severity and duration. A pharmacist’s role cannot be understated in helping people control their asthma symptoms. The University of Granada’s research has shown that a pharmacy taking an active role in helping its customers manage their asthma can drastically improve their quality of life.
Pharmacists tasked with intervening in a patient’s life when they have recently been diagnosed with asthma can often find many ways to incorporate follow up care and monitoring of symptoms into their regular routine. Commercial pharmacies may have more trouble implementing such personal strategies, but can make note to print out further reading materials, and demonstrate how to properly use a rescue inhaler if a customer has questions. Being sure to answer someone’s questions succinctly can prevent information overload, and providing a number to follow up at can also be beneficial. If your pharmacy is open 24 hours, be certain that all staff members are trained to handle customer concerns when it comes to rescue inhalers, asthma flare ups, or other treatment questions that may arise.

Tailored consulting is something that has yet to reach much of the world; however, more pharmacies are adapting a patient-focused model in their practice. Enabling customers with asthma to access information–whether it be through an app, printed booklet, or instruction from a pharmacist–can help to create a stronger sense of well being. These patients are more likely to adhere to their medications, as they may feel that more time has been invested in their care.

Many commercial practices are looking for ways to make medicine more approachable to clients, and finding ways to connect via social media, email campaigns, and even sending newsletters. An asthma focused newsletter detailing recent changes to products, or a how-to guide for an inhaler are just a few ways to connect with customers beyond the pickup counter.