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

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.