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Pharmacist-initiated general practitioner referral of patients with suboptimal asthma management
Citation
Bereznicki, BJ and Peterson, GM and Jackson, SL and Walters, EH and Fitzmaurice, KD and Gee, PR, Pharmacist-initiated general practitioner referral of patients with suboptimal asthma management, Pharmacy World and Science, 30, (6) pp. 1-7. ISSN 0928-1231 (2008) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com
Official URL: http://www.springerlink.com
DOI: doi:10.1007/s11096-008-9242-3
Abstract
Objective: To assess the impact of an intervention initiated by community pharmacists, involving the provision of educational material and general practitioner (GP) referral, on asthma knowledge and self-reported asthma control and asthma-related quality of life (QOL) in patients who may have suboptimal management of their asthma, as evidenced by pharmacy dispensing records. Setting: Community pharmacies throughout Tasmania, Australia. Methods: Forty-two pharmacies installed a software application that data mined dispensing records and generated a list of patients with suboptimal asthma management, as indicated by having three or more canisters of inhaled short-acting beta-2-agonists dispensed in the preceding 6 months. Identified patients were randomised to an intervention or control group. At baseline, intervention patients were mailed intervention packs consisting of a letter encouraging them to see their GP for a review, educational material, asthma knowledge, asthma control and asthma-related QOL questionnaires, and a letter with a dispensing history to give to their GP. Pharmacists were blinded to the control patients' identities for 6 months, after which time intervention patients were sent repeat questionnaires, and control patients were sent intervention packs. Main outcome measures: Asthma knowledge, asthma control and asthma-related QOL scores. Results: Thirty-five pharmacies completed the study, providing 706 intervention and 427 control patients who were eligible to receive intervention packs. Intervention patients' asthma control and asthma-related QOL scores at 6 months were significantly higher compared to the control patients (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) and to the intervention patients' baseline scores (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Symptom-related QOL was significantly higher compared to the control patients (P < 0.01) and activities-related QOL significantly improved compared to baseline (P < 0.05). No significant change was observed in asthma knowledge. Conclusion: The results suggest that community pharmacists are ideally placed to identify patients with suboptimal asthma management and refer such patients for a review by their GP. This type of collaborative intervention can significantly improve self-reported asthma control and asthma-related QOL in patients identified as having suboptimal management of their asthma. A larger trial is needed to confirm the effects are real and sustained. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | asthma, pharmacy |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Public health |
Research Field: | Preventative health care |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Preventive medicine |
UTAS Author: | Bereznicki, BJ (Dr Bonnie Bereznicki) |
UTAS Author: | Peterson, GM (Professor Gregory Peterson) |
UTAS Author: | Jackson, SL (Dr Shane Jackson) |
UTAS Author: | Walters, EH (Professor Haydn Walters) |
UTAS Author: | Fitzmaurice, KD (Ms Kimbra Fitzmaurice) |
UTAS Author: | Gee, PR (Mr Peter Gee) |
ID Code: | 53175 |
Year Published: | 2008 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 20 |
Deposited By: | Pharmacy |
Deposited On: | 2008-11-07 |
Last Modified: | 2011-04-15 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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