Are Sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons? A mystery patient study

Although community pharmacists have become more involved in the care of asthma patients, several studies have assessed pharmacists’ ability to illustrate appropriately inhalation technique of different asthma devices. Many studies addressed inappropriate use of asthma devices by patients and pharmac...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Osman A, Ahmed Hassan IS, Ibrahim MIM
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas 2012-06-01
Series:Pharmacy Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.pharmacypractice.org/vol10/02/110-115.htm
_version_ 1818012753411964928
author Osman A
Ahmed Hassan IS
Ibrahim MIM
author_facet Osman A
Ahmed Hassan IS
Ibrahim MIM
author_sort Osman A
collection DOAJ
description Although community pharmacists have become more involved in the care of asthma patients, several studies have assessed pharmacists’ ability to illustrate appropriately inhalation technique of different asthma devices. Many studies addressed inappropriate use of asthma devices by patients and pharmacists, in addition to its clinical, humanistic and economic burden.Objective: To evaluate community pharmacists’ practical knowledge and skills of demonstrating proper inhalation technique of asthma inhaler devices available in Sudan.Method: Three hundred community pharmacies located around the three major hospitals in the capital city (Khartoum) and four other provinces were approached, and four asthma devices were assessed: Metered-dose inhaler (MDI) (n=105), MDI with Spacer (n=83), Turbuhaler (n=61), and Diskus (n=51). Investigator (a pharmacist) acted as a mystery patient. He selected one device and asked the serving pharmacist to demonstrate how to use the device. Investigator completed a checklist of 9 steps of inhaler device use immediately after leaving the pharmacy. Essential steps derived from published literature were pre-specified for each device. Five evaluation categories were accordingly formulated as follows: optimal technique, adequate technique, poor technique, totally unfamiliar with the device, and does not know.Results: More than half of the pharmacists approached with metered dose inhaler did not know how to use optimal technique (ie all steps correct) all through. A third poorly demonstrated the technique, and only one pharmacist was categorized as being able to demonstrate an “optimal technique”. The majority of pharmacists approached with spacing chamber and dry powder inhalers (Turbuhaler and Diskus) either did not know proper technique or were totally unfamiliar with the devices.Conclusion: The majority of community pharmacists, who were expected to educate asthma patients on their dispensed inhalers, lack the basic knowledge of proper use of commonly dispensed asthma inhaler devices.
first_indexed 2024-04-14T06:24:13Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3bfc29e4c2544e25b91800cd5287b6ef
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1885-642X
1886-3655
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-14T06:24:13Z
publishDate 2012-06-01
publisher Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas
record_format Article
series Pharmacy Practice
spelling doaj.art-3bfc29e4c2544e25b91800cd5287b6ef2022-12-22T02:07:53ZengCentro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones FarmaceuticasPharmacy Practice1885-642X1886-36552012-06-01102110115Are Sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons? A mystery patient studyOsman AAhmed Hassan ISIbrahim MIMAlthough community pharmacists have become more involved in the care of asthma patients, several studies have assessed pharmacists’ ability to illustrate appropriately inhalation technique of different asthma devices. Many studies addressed inappropriate use of asthma devices by patients and pharmacists, in addition to its clinical, humanistic and economic burden.Objective: To evaluate community pharmacists’ practical knowledge and skills of demonstrating proper inhalation technique of asthma inhaler devices available in Sudan.Method: Three hundred community pharmacies located around the three major hospitals in the capital city (Khartoum) and four other provinces were approached, and four asthma devices were assessed: Metered-dose inhaler (MDI) (n=105), MDI with Spacer (n=83), Turbuhaler (n=61), and Diskus (n=51). Investigator (a pharmacist) acted as a mystery patient. He selected one device and asked the serving pharmacist to demonstrate how to use the device. Investigator completed a checklist of 9 steps of inhaler device use immediately after leaving the pharmacy. Essential steps derived from published literature were pre-specified for each device. Five evaluation categories were accordingly formulated as follows: optimal technique, adequate technique, poor technique, totally unfamiliar with the device, and does not know.Results: More than half of the pharmacists approached with metered dose inhaler did not know how to use optimal technique (ie all steps correct) all through. A third poorly demonstrated the technique, and only one pharmacist was categorized as being able to demonstrate an “optimal technique”. The majority of pharmacists approached with spacing chamber and dry powder inhalers (Turbuhaler and Diskus) either did not know proper technique or were totally unfamiliar with the devices.Conclusion: The majority of community pharmacists, who were expected to educate asthma patients on their dispensed inhalers, lack the basic knowledge of proper use of commonly dispensed asthma inhaler devices.http://www.pharmacypractice.org/vol10/02/110-115.htmNebulizers and Vaporizers. AsthmaCommunity Pharmacy ServicesPharmacistsPatient SimulationSudan
spellingShingle Osman A
Ahmed Hassan IS
Ibrahim MIM
Are Sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons? A mystery patient study
Pharmacy Practice
Nebulizers and Vaporizers. Asthma
Community Pharmacy Services
Pharmacists
Patient Simulation
Sudan
title Are Sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons? A mystery patient study
title_full Are Sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons? A mystery patient study
title_fullStr Are Sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons? A mystery patient study
title_full_unstemmed Are Sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons? A mystery patient study
title_short Are Sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons? A mystery patient study
title_sort are sudanese community pharmacists capable to prescribe and demonstrate asthma inhaler devices to patrons a mystery patient study
topic Nebulizers and Vaporizers. Asthma
Community Pharmacy Services
Pharmacists
Patient Simulation
Sudan
url http://www.pharmacypractice.org/vol10/02/110-115.htm
work_keys_str_mv AT osmana aresudanesecommunitypharmacistscapabletoprescribeanddemonstrateasthmainhalerdevicestopatronsamysterypatientstudy
AT ahmedhassanis aresudanesecommunitypharmacistscapabletoprescribeanddemonstrateasthmainhalerdevicestopatronsamysterypatientstudy
AT ibrahimmim aresudanesecommunitypharmacistscapabletoprescribeanddemonstrateasthmainhalerdevicestopatronsamysterypatientstudy