Pharmaceutical Care in Respiratory Disease Flashcards
How is pharmaceutical care defined?
The responsible provision of drug therapy for achieving definite outcomes that improve a patients quality of life
What is a pharmacists role in pharmaceutical care?
To ensure safe, evidence-based medicines are optimally used to manage chronic and acute conditions, and promote patient self-care to achieve individual health outcomes
What are our aims in treating patients with respiratory disease?
To help patients to,
Obtain the most effective therapy
Understand their disease
Use their medicines appropriately (medicines optimisation)
Experience improved QoL
We can do this by preventing disease, identifying disease and managing diagnosed conditions
What are some of the primary prevention methods for asthma?
Encourage breast feeding
Allergen detection and avoidance
Smoking cessation
What are some of the primary prevention methods for COPD?
Smoking cessation
What indicators can be use to diagnose underlying asthma?
Frequent 'chest infections' Persistent cough, usually at night time Recurrent 'wheezy' bronchitis in children Chest tightness SoB
What indicators can be use to diagnose underlying COPD?
Current or ex-smoker Typically older Persistent cough Recurrent bronchitis in winter Breathlessness on exertion Wheezing OTC sales or prescriptions for cough medicines and antibiotics
Newly diagnosed patients need support, what can we do to achieve this?
Ensure understanding of disease
Assess prescriptions (appropriate doses, interactions, sensitivities, contraindications)
Check patient has been shown how to use their inhalers/take their medicines
Inhaler device must be…
Able to effectively deliver the drug to the site of action
Suitable for individual patients to be able to use
What are some of the factors to consider when making a choice on inhalers?
Aerosol vs. dry powder Breath actuated? Manipulation (is the patient cognitively or physically able to use the product?) Taste Dose counter? Cost Patient preference Patient age Portability Drug availability
What are some of the problems that commonly occur with inhaler use?
Not shaking the device before use (inconsistent dosing)
Not priming the aerosol inhaler device (to check the spray is working)
Not breathing out before inhaling (breathing out reduces the amount offer in the airways and increases available space for next breath, what we want)
With good technique, the patient will get _% lung deposition
20
With bad technique, the patient will get _% lung deposition
5
_% of patients have the wrong inhaler technique
90
How should an MDI be taken?
Slow and gentle (normal breath, imagine a straight piece of road with a sharp bend at the end, any cars going too fast will crash, the product generates its own propellant)
How should a DPI be taken?
Fast and forceful (need to generate enough force to break up the formulation to optimise particle size and lung deposition)
All inhalers need a _ inhalation.
Deep
Patients should always be prescribed…
One type of device where possible as concurrent use of multiple types of inhalers with different techniques can confuse patients
Failing that, all aerosols or all dry powders so the same inhalation technique can be used
Why are spacers used?
To help patients get a better outcome from their MDI’s e.g. aerochamber, nebuhaler, volumatic
How to spacers improve administration?
Avoid need for coordination with MDI
Increase lung deposition
Decrease deposition in mouth/throat
How should spacers be cared for?
Wash with soap and water monthly and dry in air
Do not towel dry the spacer as this can affect its function
Should be replaced every 6-12 months