Giovanni Paoletti1, Enrico Keber2, Enrico Heffler3, Giacomo Malipiero4, Ilaria Baiardini1, Giorgio Walter Canonica1, Corrado Giua2. 1. Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, MI, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, MI, Italy. 2. Società Italiana Farmacia Clinica (SIFAC), Cagliari, Italy. 3. Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, MI, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, MI, Italy. Electronic address: enrico.heffler@hunimed.eu. 4. Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, MI, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lack of therapeutic adherence is a relevant problem in clinical practice and it can be assessed via validated tools such as the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI). Education on the correct use of inhaler devices has been associated with improvement in adherence. Many studies highlighted the pivotal role of pharmacists in promoting therapeutic adherence in the management of respiratory diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness on adherence and clinical parameters of an educational intervention administered by clinical pharmacists (CPs) to patients with asthma on long-term inhalation therapy. METHODS: A prospective comparative study involving 34 community pharmacies in Italy (23 intervention, 11 control). Enrolled subjects were evaluated for adherence to inhalation therapy by TAI, asthma control by "Asthma Control Test" (ACT), and lung function at baseline and after 2 months. The educational intervention at baseline was based on TAI results and administered by specifically trained pharmacists. RESULTS: A total of 242 consecutive subjects (167 intervention, 75 control) were enrolled. There was a significant improvement in TAI score, ACT and lung function parameters (p-value<0.001) in the intervention group between baseline and the follow-up visit. Patients with baseline ACT≥20 maintained disease control more frequently in the intervention group compared to the control arm (95% vs 79.5%, p = 0.004). Conclusions through administration of TAI-driven educational interventions addressing both technical and psychological issues, trained CPs can help improve adherence to treatment and asthma control.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Lack of therapeutic adherence is a relevant problem in clinical practice and it can be assessed via validated tools such as the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI). Education on the correct use of inhaler devices has been associated with improvement in adherence. Many studies highlighted the pivotal role of pharmacists in promoting therapeutic adherence in the management of respiratory diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness on adherence and clinical parameters of an educational intervention administered by clinical pharmacists (CPs) to patients with asthma on long-term inhalation therapy. METHODS: A prospective comparative study involving 34 community pharmacies in Italy (23 intervention, 11 control). Enrolled subjects were evaluated for adherence to inhalation therapy by TAI, asthma control by "Asthma Control Test" (ACT), and lung function at baseline and after 2 months. The educational intervention at baseline was based on TAI results and administered by specifically trained pharmacists. RESULTS: A total of 242 consecutive subjects (167 intervention, 75 control) were enrolled. There was a significant improvement in TAI score, ACT and lung function parameters (p-value<0.001) in the intervention group between baseline and the follow-up visit. Patients with baseline ACT≥20 maintained disease control more frequently in the intervention group compared to the control arm (95% vs 79.5%, p = 0.004). Conclusions through administration of TAI-driven educational interventions addressing both technical and psychological issues, trained CPs can help improve adherence to treatment and asthma control.
Authors: Amira S A Said; Nadia Hussain; Zelal Kharaba; Amal H I Al Haddad; Lamiaa N Abdelaty; Raghda R S Hussein Journal: J Pharm Policy Pract Date: 2022-05-03