Pharmacist-led intervention study to improve inhalation technique in asthma and COPD patients

Source: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: The aims of this study were to survey the quality of inhalation technique in patients and to determine the effect of a single intervention in community pharmacies by means of standardized procedures. At baseline 597 patients (78.9%) made at least one mistake whereas this number dropeed to 214 or 28.3% after one appointment with the community phamacist.

Length of publication:  10 pages

Some important notes: Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details Follow this link to find your local NHS Library

Acknowledgement: EMBASE

A simple case-management programme can improve outcomes in COPD

Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published early online 14 January 2010

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Date of publication: published early online 14 January 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This study aimed to determine whether an easily implemented programme that focussed on early recognition and self-treatment of exacerbations could improve outcomes in COPD patients. Participants were randomised to intervention and control groups, and followed for 12 months or death. The intervention comprised an education session lasting 1 to 1.5 hours, an action plan for self-treatment of exacerbations, and monthly follow-up telephone calls from a case manager. Control patients received usual care. The authors conclude that their relatively simple COPD disease management programme reduced hospitalisations and ED visits in this high-risk patient group by 41%.

Length of publication:  41 pages

Action Plan to enhance self-management and early detection of exacerbations in COPD patients; a multicenter RCT

Source: BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2009

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Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This RCT  identifies if an action plan (AP)  is an effective component of self-management  in patients with COPD and  clearly differentiates from existing studies  in  its design, outcome measures and generalizability of the results considering that the  study is carried out in multiple sites including general practices.

Length of publication: 23 pages

Acknowledgement: PubMed

The (cost)-effectiveness of self-treatment of exacerbations on the severity of exacerbations in COPD patients: the COPE-II study

Source: Thorax published early online 6 September 2009

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Date of publication: September 2009

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: The authors evaluated the effect of self-treatment on the severity of exacerbations during one year plus carried out a cost-effectiveness analysis.  Patients were randomly allocated to four two-hour sessions, with or without training in self-treatment. Concluded that self-treatment of exacerbations incorporated in a self-management programme leads to less exacerbation days and lower costs.

Length of publication: 16 pages

Some important notes: Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details Follow this link to find your local NHS Library

Acknowledgement: Medline