Pharmacist-delivered asthma management services - what do patients think?

Background: Evaluating pharmacy services from the perspective of the end user-patients-is imperative for ensuring the sustainability of services.

Objectives: This study evaluated patient feedback regarding an evidence-based community pharmacist-delivered Pharmacy Asthma Service (PAS), in terms of overall satisfaction, satisfaction with PAS delivery, and perceived impact, and explored determinates of satisfaction.

Methods: All patients who received the 12-month PAS (n = 143) were invited to provide feedback via a project-specific patient evaluation survey upon completion of the final consultation. The survey included a mix of 5-point Likert-type scale items, multiple-choice questions, and free-text response questions. Overall satisfaction was determined by a single 5-point Likert-type scale question. Satisfaction with service delivery and overall impact were assessed using a 4-item and 8-item Likert-type scale, respectively, and a summative score computed for each section. Patient PAS data including demographics and management outcomes were then cross tabulated against overall satisfaction, satisfaction with PAS delivery, and impact.

Results: Feedback was received from 71% (n = 101) of patients who completed the PAS. The results indicated high overall patient satisfaction, with 86% of respondents very satisfied with the service. Patients identified positive impacts of the PAS including improved understanding and management of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Similarly, almost all patients were satisfied with service delivery including the pharmacist's knowledge and their ability to assist (98%) and the privacy of the pharmacy setting (91%). Patients who had controlled asthma at the end of the trial had higher levels of overall satisfaction (χ² = 9.584, df = 5, P = 0.048) and reported greater overall impact on asthma and allergic rhinitis management (U = 1593.5, P = 0.004).

Conclusion: The diffusion of health services within community pharmacy practice is dependent upon patient receptivity and how the services align with patient needs. The positive satisfaction received indicates that the PAS would be welcomed by patients with asthma in future.