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Pharmacy World & Science

, Volume 29, Issue 3, pp 228–239 | Cite as

The effect of pharmacist education on asthma treatment plans for simulated patients

  • Lisa DolovichEmail author
  • Mona Sabharwal
  • Karen Agro
  • Gary Foster
  • Annie Lee
  • Lisa McCarthy
  • Andrew R. Willan
Research article
First Online:

Abstract

Objective To determine if an educational program designed for community pharmacists to help patients self manage their asthma could improve pharmacists abilities to facilitate asthma treatment plans. Setting Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Method A randomized controlled trial involving volunteer community pharmacists who received either an asthma education program (AEP; intervention group) or a delayed AEP (control group). The AEP consisted of a one-day workshop and two follow-up telephone calls. Teaching methods progressed from a didactic approach to self-directed learning and role playing with simulated patients (SPs). The primary outcome was measured by SPs who conducted unannounced pharmacy visits. Main Outcomes Measures The number of appropriate (defined a priori) action plans facilitated by the pharmacist was the primary outcome. Facilitated was defined as the pharmacist recommending a specific plan, taking responsibility for telephoning the physician, or ensuring the patient would take responsibility for contacting the physician. Results Thirty-three pharmacists were randomized to the intervention group and 31 pharmacists were randomized to the control group. Pharmacists in the intervention group facilitated an appropriate plan in 44.8% of situations (117 out of a possible 261) compared with 29.3% (79 out of a possible 270) in the control group, (mean difference 15.5% (95% CI: 7.4–23.8%; P = 0.0004)). Intervention group pharmacists were better able to facilitate plans for the ‘under use of inhaled corticosteroids,’ ‘exposure to pet dander as an asthma trigger,’ and ‘overuse of short-acting beta-agonist’ problems. Intervention group pharmacists exhibited better overall communication skills (including empathy, coherence, verbal skills, and nonverbal skills). Conclusion This AEP produced improvements in pharmacists’ abilities to facilitate plans for SPs in a community pharmacy setting.

Keywords

Asthma Canada Community pharmacy Pharmaceutical care Pharmacist education Randomized controlled trial Simulated patient 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Merck Frosst Canada Inc., and in-kind contribution from Agro Health Associates Inc., and the Centre for Evaluation of Medicines. Conflict of interests: No conflict of interests.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • Lisa Dolovich
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 6
    Email author
  • Mona Sabharwal
    • 1
  • Karen Agro
    • 3
    • 5
  • Gary Foster
    • 1
  • Annie Lee
    • 2
  • Lisa McCarthy
    • 1
  • Andrew R. Willan
    • 7
    • 8
  1. 1.Centre for Evaluation of MedicinesSt. Joseph’s HealthcareHamiltonCanada
  2. 2.Pharmacy DepartmentSt. Joseph’s HealthcareHamiltonCanada
  3. 3.Leslie Dan Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
  4. 4.Department of Family MedicineMcMaster UniversityHamiltonCanada
  5. 5.Agro Health Associates Inc.BurlingtonCanada
  6. 6.Department of Clinical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsMcMaster UniversityHamiltonCanada
  7. 7.Program in Population Health SciencesSickKids Research InstituteTorontoCanada
  8. 8.Department of Public Health SciencesUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada

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