title: Pharmaceutical care for asthma patients: A Developing Country's Experience.
abstract: 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).
  
  
  RESULTS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Sriram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shanmugam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varughese
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Manjuladevi Anandavalli Sukumaran
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Rajalingam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Shivashankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Velu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Chitra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bhojan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Vidhya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Devarajan
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, India.
authors.forename: Ali Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sabzghabaee
keywords: Asthma; pharmaceutical care; quality of life