Clinical pharmacist counseling improves outcomes for Taiwanese asthma patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of an asthma educational program provided by a nurse combined with asthma counseling provided by a pharmacist on asthma knowledge, quality of life and clinical outcomes in Taiwanese patients with asthma.


METHODS
All patients were recruited from Pulmonary Medicine outpatient clinic, the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Asthma education was given in three one-hour sessions offered during monthly clinic visits.


METHODS
A total of 91 asthma patients were randomly assigned to a nurse-administered education program (Group 1), the education program with additional pharmacist counseling (Group 2), or a control group receiving routine care only (control). Three questionnaires were used for assessment at months 0, 3 and 6. Outcomes were compared between groups to determine efficacy.


METHODS
Asthma knowledge, health-related quality of life, and medication adherence were measured at baseline and 3 and 6 months after enrollment.


RESULTS
A total of 104 patients were enrolled; 91 completed the study. Knowledge scores of patients in Groups 1 and 2 increased significantly compared to control group. Both intervention groups showed significant increases in knowledge scores with longer follow-up. Group 2 showed a significant improvement in clinical symptoms between baseline (month 0) and month 6 (4.99 vs. 4.21, P=0.008). No significant differences in medication adherence were seen among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular nurse-administered asthma education with additional pharmacist counseling improves asthma knowledge and clinical symptoms in asthma patients.
Wang
Kwua-Yun
KY
Nursing Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Chian
Chih-Feng
CF
Lai
Hsiang-Ru
HR
Tarn
Yen-Huei
YH
Wu
Chin-Pyng
CP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000639:trends; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000639:trends; D024382:Professional Role; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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