Back to Journals » International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease » Volume 8
Effect of a network system for providing proper inhalation technique by community pharmacists on clinical outcomes in COPD patients
Authors Takemura M, Mitsui K, Ido M, Matsumoto M, Koyama M, Inoue D, Takamatsu K, Itotani R, Ishitoko M, Suzuki S, Aihara K, Sakuramoto M, Kagioka H, Fukui M
Received 14 February 2013
Accepted for publication 22 March 2013
Published 9 May 2013 Volume 2013:8 Pages 239—244
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S44022
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 2
Masaya Takemura,1 Katsumi Mitsui,2 Masako Ido,2 Masataka Matsumoto,1 Misuzu Koyama,3 Daiki Inoue,1 Kazufumi Takamatsu,1 Ryo Itotani,1 Manabu Ishitoko,1 Shinko Suzuki,1 Kensaku Aihara,1 Minoru Sakuramoto,1 Hitoshi Kagioka,1 Motonari Fukui1
1Respiratory Disease Center, Kitano-Hospital, the Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan; 2Division of Pharmacy, Kitano-Hospital, The Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan; 3Kita-ku Pharmaceutical Association, Osaka, Japan
Introduction: Nonadherence to inhalation therapy is very common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Few data are available to support the role of community pharmacists in optimizing inhalation therapy in COPD patients. Since 2007, the Kitano Hospital and the Kita-ku Pharmaceutical Association have provided a network system for delivering correct inhalation techniques through certified community pharmacists. The effects of this network system on clinical outcomes in COPD patients were examined.
Methods: A total of 88 consecutive outpatients with COPD at baseline and 82 of those 4 years later were recruited from the respiratory clinic of Kitano Hospital Medical Research Institute. Measurements included the frequency of COPD exacerbations, patients’ adherence to inhalation therapy using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, and patients’ health status both prior to this system and 4 years later.
Results: Usable information was obtained from 55 patients with COPD at baseline, and from 51 patients 4 years later. Compared with baseline values, a significant decrease was observed in the frequency of COPD exacerbations (1.5 ± 1.6 versus 0.8 ± 1.4 times/year, P = 0.017). Adherence to the inhalation regimen increased significantly (4.1 ± 0.7 versus 4.4 ± 0.8, P = 0.024), but health status was unchanged. At 4 years, of 51 COPD patients, 39 (76%) patients who visited the certified pharmacies showed significantly higher medication adherence than those who did not (4.6 ± 0.6 versus 3.9 ± 1.0, P = 0.022).
Conclusion: The network system may improve COPD control and adherence to inhalation regimens.
Keywords: COPD, adherence, community pharmacist, exacerbation, quality of life
© 2013 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.