Can Pharmacists' Counseling Improve the Use of Inhalers and Quality of Life? A Prospective "Pre" and "Post" Education Analysis in Mardan, Pakistan

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is one of the common major non-communicable respiratory diseases, and is associated with a lower health-related quality of life (QOL). Poor inhalation is a significant contributing factor to poor control of asthma. Community pharmacist has a vital role to play in assisting patients and ultimately improving their asthma conditions through the use of inhalers.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of "pre" and "post" educational intervention by a community pharmacist within a community pharmacy on asthma patients' QOL, inhaler technique, and adherence to therapy during the endemic phase of COVID-19.

METHODS: A "pre" and "post" interventional study was performed at a community pharmacy in the city of Mardan, Pakistan, in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients were divided into two groups, ie control and pharmacist-led education groups. After assigning patients to both groups, the baseline data were collected and followed for one month to compare the reduction in errors in the use of inhalers, QOL, and adherence to therapy. A paired sample t-test was performed, keeping a p-value <0.05 as statistical significance.

RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were recruited, majority (58.3%) were females, and 28.3% were from the age group of 46-55 years old. A statistically significant difference was observed in the pre- and post-education QOL score among patients in the pharmacist-led education group, from a mean ± SD at pre-education of 40.23±10.03 to a mean±SD at post-education of 48.10±5.68. Similarly, a statistically significant difference was observed for the correct use of inhalers, ie MDIs and DPIs. Similarly, a statistically significant difference was observed in the adherence status between pre-education and post-education by pharmacists.

CONCLUSION: The findings of the study revealed a positive impact of community pharmacist-led education on QOL, inhaler technique, and adherence to therapy among patients with asthma.