Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice

Pharmaceutical care for asthma patients: A Developing Country's Experience

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

Asthma
pharmaceutical care
quality of life
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Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice
Volume 1, Issue 2
November 2012
Pages 66-71

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