Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Sriram Shanmugam 1
- . Jane Varughese 1
- . Manjuladevi Anandavalli Sukumaran Nair1 1
- . Rajalingam Balasubramanian 1
- . Shivashankar Velu 1
- . Chitra Bhojan 1
- . Vidhya Devarajan 1
- . Ali Mohammad Sabzghabaee 2
1 Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, India
2 Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Objective: This study aims at the outcome of providing pharmaceutical care service for
asthma patients through an active partnership between clinical pharmacist and patients, for
an optimal pharmacotherapy and a better quality of life (QoL).
Methods: In this controlled clinical trial, which was conducted for 8 months (2009) in
the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Research Centre of a 550-bedded multispecialty
tertiary care teaching hospital in India, all patients diagnosed with asthma at least 6 months
before getting enrolled in this study were included (n = 66). Patients were divided into the
intervention group who received pharmaceutical care through asthma education, medication
counselling, instructions on lifestyle modifications, asthma care diary, etc., and the control
group who were not provided any pharmaceutical care. Asthma control in the two groups
was assessed using Asthma Control Test (ACT) at regular intervals. QoL in both groups was
assessed at regular intervals using standardized Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ).
Findings: The mean AQLQ scores for the intervention group at the baseline were changed
to significantly higher amounts in the final visit indicating overall, activity, symptoms, emotional,
and environmental domains, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean ACT scores for intervention
group at baseline were also increased in statistically significant amounts in the final visit for
all the five ACT questions (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Our pharmaceutical care program showed a positive impact in improving
patient’s asthma-related QoL, lung function, and asthma control. By providing structured
pharmaceutical care, clinical pharmacists can help asthma patients to achieve desired health
outcomes.
Keywords
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