Pharmacist-delivered asthma management services-what do patients think?

BACKGROUND: Evaluating pharmacy services from the perspective of the end user-patients-is imperative for ensuring the sustainability of services. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated patient feedback regarding an evidence-based community pharmacist-delivered Pharmacy Asthma Service (PAS), in terms of overall satisfaction, satisfaction with PAS delivery, and perceived impact, and explored determinates of satisfaction. METHODS: All patients who received the 12-month PAS (n = 143) were invited to provide feedback via a project-specific patient evaluation survey upon completion of the final consultation. The survey included a mix of 5-point Likert-type scale items, multiple-choice questions, and free-text response questions. Overall satisfaction was determined by a single 5-point Likert-type scale question. Satisfaction with service delivery and overall impact were assessed using a 4-item and 8-item Likert-type scale, respectively, and a summative score computed for each section. Patient PAS data including demographics and management outcomes were then cross tabulated against overall satisfaction, satisfaction with PAS delivery, and impact. RESULTS: Feedback was received from 71% (n = 101) of patients who completed the PAS. The results indicated high overall patient satisfaction, with 86% of respondents very satisfied with the service. Patients identified positive impacts of the PAS including improved understanding and management of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Similarly, almost all patients were satisfied with service delivery including the pharmacist's knowledge and their ability to assist (98%) and the privacy of the pharmacy setting (91%). Patients who had controlled asthma at the end of the trial had higher levels of overall satisfaction (χ2 = 9.584, df = 5, P = 0.048) and reported greater overall impact on asthma and allergic rhinitis management (U = 1593.5, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The diffusion of health services within community pharmacy practice is dependent upon patient receptivity and how the services align with patient needs. The positive satisfaction received indicates that the PAS would be welcomed by patients with asthma in future.

An electronic decision support-based complex intervention to improve management of cardiovascular risk in primary health care: a cluster randomised trial (INTEGRATE).

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a multifaceted primary health care intervention better controlled cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with high risk of CVD than usual care. DESIGN, SETTING: Parallel arm, cluster randomised trial in 71 Australian general practices, 5 December 2016 - 13 September 2019. PARTICIPANTS: General practices that predominantly used an electronic medical record system compatible with the HealthTracker electronic decision support tool, and willing to implement all components of the INTEGRATE intervention. INTERVENTION: Electronic point-of-care decision support for general practices; combination cardiovascular medications (polypills); and a pharmacy-based medication adherence program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of patients with high CVD risk not on an optimal preventive medication regimen at baseline who had achieved both blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goals at study end. RESULTS: After a median 15 months' follow-up, primary outcome data were available for 4477 of 7165 patients in the primary outcome cohort (62%). The proportion of patients who achieved both treatment targets was similar in the intervention (423 of 2156; 19.6%) and control groups (466 of 2321; 20.1%; relative risk, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85-1.32). Further, no statistically significant differences were found for a number of secondary outcomes, including risk factor screening, preventive medication prescribing, and risk factor levels. Use of intervention components was low; it was highest for HealthTracker, used at least once for 347 of 3236 undertreated patients with high CVD risk (10.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite evidence for the efficacy of its individual components, the INTEGRATE intervention was not broadly implemented and did not improve CVD risk management in participating Australian general practices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12616000233426 (prospective).

Perspectives of general practitioners about a collaborative asthma care model in primary care.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma affects 2.7 million people in Australia and is predominantly managed by general practitioners (GPs) within primary care. Despite national focus on this condition, asthma control in the population is suboptimal, with many preventable hospitalizations. In the light of robust evidence supporting the role of pharmacists in the management of chronic diseases including asthma, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) proposed a General Practice Pharmacist (GPP) model in 2015. In this proposal, a non-dispensing pharmacist, co-located within the primary care setting and collaborating with GPs and allied health professionals, can make a positive impact on patients' health and minimize costs due to medication misadventure. The aim of this study was to obtain the views of GPs regarding the GPP model for better management of asthma in a qualitative study. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 GPs, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and later analyzed for emergent themes. The GPs support the idea of a GPP as time and task pressures restrict them in adhering to asthma management guidelines. RESULTS: Support from another health professional in such a pressured environment can positively impact patient's health. Funding, clear role delineation within general practice, training of pharmacists working as GPPs, and effective communication systems were described as the potential catalysts for the success of the model. CONCLUSION: Sustainable funding and the willingness of practice owners/managers were described as the barriers. The GPs agreed that pharmacists can make a positive difference in patient's asthma management once the barriers were effectively addressed.

The role of pharmacists in the pharmaceutical care of asthma patients in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: the patients' views.

Introduction: Community pharmacists are one of the most frequently accessed health professionals who can be involved in the provision of ongoing asthma management within the primary care setting. The aim of this study was to identify patients' views regarding current asthma care provided by their pharmacists and their perspectives on future pharmacy-based asthma services.Methods: This is a qualitative approach with an interview guide. Asthma patients were purposively selected. Interviews were conducted from April to June 2017. Patient's opinions about asthma and its management and their experiences regarding asthma care provided by pharmacists were collected. Data were analyzed using content analysis.Results: Thirty-three interviews were conducted. Asthma literacy was low. There was dis-engagement with the health care system, with only a few participants trusting conventional health care professionals. Alternative medicine systems and practitioners were better trusted and participants had strong preferences for family/peer involvement in their asthma care. Participants also had misunderstandings regarding their asthma disease and medications. Participants had experienced little pharmaceutical care provided by pharmacists but would welcome it in the future.Conclusion: Given the accessibility of community pharmacy venues and readiness of the profession for more involved care of chronic disease patients, it may be recommended that Indonesian community pharmacists should adopt the provision of pharmaceutical care models for asthma. Such pharmaceutical care models need to incorporate patients' unique sociocultural health beliefs, preferences for alternative medicines and family/social peer involvement as well as stronger collaboration between pharmacists and physicians.

Patient Perceptions of Treatment Delivery Platforms for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia.

OBJECTIVE: Stepped care has given rise to the proliferation of abbreviated CBT-I programs and delivery formats. This includes interventions delivered by allied health professionals and those delivered electronically through the Internet. This article aims to explore patient perceptions between electronic and face-to-face (FTF) delivery platforms for (abbreviated) CBT-I. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with insomnia from specialist sleep or psychology clinics and those from the general community in Sydney, Australia. METHOD: Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients with insomnia, guided by a schedule of questions and a choice task to explore patient perceptions of the different CBT-I treatment delivery platforms (e.g., perceived advantages and disadvantages or willingness to engage with either platform). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Framework Analysis. Participants also completed a battery of clinical mood and insomnia measures. RESULTS: Fifty-one interviews were conducted with patients with insomnia from specialist sleep or psychology clinics (n = 22) and the general community (n = 29). Synthesis of the qualitative data set revealed three themes pertinent to the patients' perspective toward electronic and FTF CBT-I delivery: Concepts of Efficacy, Concerns About Treatment, and Treatment on My Terms. Participants' choice to engage with either platform was also informed by diverse factors including perceived efficacy of treatment, personal commitments, lifestyle, and beliefs about sleep and insomnia. CONCLUSION: Clarifying patient treatment priorities and allaying potential concerns about engaging with an electronic treatment platform represent important steps for disseminating eCBT-I into mainstream practice.

Lack of asthma and rhinitis control in general practitioner-managed patients prescribed fixed-dose combination therapy in Australia.

OBJECTIVES: The first aim of the study (i) assess the current asthma status of general-practitioner-managed patients receiving regular fixed-dose combination inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2 agonist (FDC ICS/LABA) therapy and (ii) explore patients' perceptions of asthma control and attitudes/behaviors regarding preventer inhaler use. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study of Australian adults with a current physician diagnosis of asthma receiving ≥2 prescriptions of FDC ICS/LABA therapy in the previous year, who were recruited through general practice to receive a structured in-depth asthma review between May 2012 and January 2014. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests for independence were used for associations across asthma control levels. RESULTS: Only 11.5% of the patients had controlled asthma based on guideline-defined criteria. Contrarily, 66.5% of the patients considered their asthma to be well controlled. Incidence of acute asthma exacerbations in the previous year was 26.5% and 45.6% of the patients were without a diagnosis of rhinitis. Asthma medication use and inhaler technique were sub-optimal; only 41.0% of the preventer users reported everyday use. The side effects of medication were common and more frequently reported among uncontrolled and partially controlled patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed the extent to which asthma management needs to be improved in this patient cohort and the numerous unmet needs regarding the current state of asthma care. Not only there is a need for continuous education of patients, but also education of health care practitioners to better understand the way in which patient's perceptions impact on asthma management practices, incorporating these findings into clinical decision making.

To Drug or Not to Drug: A Qualitative Study of Patients' Decision-Making Processes for Managing Insomnia.

Treatment preferences play a key role in dictating sleep health outcomes. However, patients' treatment beliefs, attitudes, and experiences that inform preference conceptualization remain an unknown phenomenon. Therefore, this study aims to explore patient perceptions toward pharmacotherapy and the nonpharmacological management of insomnia. Fifty-one patients with insomnia were recruited from specialist clinics and general community settings. Participants completed a brief questionnaire followed by an in-depth semistructured interview that was digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to Framework Analysis to identify emergent themes. Three key themes were identified: Resolving Insomnia, Self-Imposed Treatment Boundaries, and Treatment Uptake. Patients' illness, treatment, and psychosocial beliefs and experiences are closely linked to treatment choice. Being attuned to these influences during the clinical encounter can facilitate treatment selection that is meaningful for the patient.

Pharmacists' interventions on clinical asthma outcomes: a systematic review.

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of pharmacists' interventions on clinical asthma outcomes on adult patients and to identify the outcome indicators used.PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Scielo were searched. Studies addressing pharmacists' interventions on adult asthma patients reporting clinical asthma outcomes were incorporated.11 clinical outcomes were identified in 21 studies. 10 studies measured the impact of the intervention on asthma control. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) and non-RCTs found positive results in percentages of controlled patients and Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) scores. Discordant results were found for Asthma Control Test results. Asthma severity was assessed in four studies. One RCT found a significant decrease in the percentage of severe patients; two non-RCTs found significant improvements in severity scores. 11 studies reported pulmonary function indicators, showing inconsistent results. Eight studies measured asthma symptoms; three RCTs and four non-RCTs showed significant improvements.RCTs and non-RCTs generated similar results for most outcomes. Based on the evidence generated by RCTs, pharmacists' have a positive impact on the percentage of controlled patients, ACQ scores, severity and symptoms. Future research should report using the core outcome set of indicators established for asthma (PROSPERO CRD42014007019).

People with insomnia: experiences with sedative hypnotics and risk perception.

BACKGROUND: Sedative hypnotics form an important part of managing insomnia and are recommended for short-term use. It is standard practice for clinicians to inform the patient to use medications only 'when required', but the use of these medications is often chronic. Little is known about the impact of standard labelling/instructions on promoting appropriate medication use for managing insomnia. OBJECTIVE: To explore patient medication-taking beliefs, experiences and behavioural practices relating to the use of pharmacological/complementary sleep aids for insomnia. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Specialist sleep/psychology clinics and the general community in Sydney, Australia. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 people with insomnia using a schedule of questions to gauge their experiences, beliefs and current practices relating to insomnia medication use. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and subjected to Framework Analysis to identify emergent themes. RESULTS: Participants held distinctive views about the safety and efficacy of complementary and pharmacological agents but do not intuitively turn to medications to resolve their sleep complaint. Medication use was affirmed through tangible medication-taking cues due to the ambivalence in current instructions and labelling. Practices such as dosage modification, medication substitution and delaying medication use might be important drivers for psychological dependence. CONCLUSION: Current labelling and instructions do not necessarily promote the quality use of sedative hypnotics due to the variability in patient interpretations. Clarifying the timing, quantity and frequency of medication administration as well as insomnia symptom recognition would play a significant role in optimizing the role of pharmacotherapy in the management of insomnia.

Treating Insomnia: A Review of Patient Perceptions Toward Treatment.

Patient views about their treatment for insomnia often dictate outcome. This review explores the literature relating to the patients' global perceptions toward treatment for insomnia. A strategic literature search was conducted using five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase). The 57 research articles included for this review were mapped out chronologically across three key stages of treatment-seeking (pretreatment appraisal, actual treatment experiences, and posttreatment evaluation). Patient perceptions played an important role across these three key stages and influenced subsequent health behaviors such as the initiation of help-seeking, treatment uptake, treatment adherence, and treatment adjustment. Patients' perceptions toward treatment were heavily grounded by their psychosocial contexts. Clinical implications and future directions for including patient-centered metrics in mainstream practice and research are discussed.

A snapshot of pharmacist attitudes and behaviors surrounding the management of pediatric asthma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify the current status of pediatric asthma management in the Australian community pharmacy setting from the pharmacists' perspective. This research will allow us to identify training needs of community pharmacists. METHOD: Pharmacists were recruited from the Sydney metropolitan region and asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire that elucidated information on four general domains relating to pediatric asthma management within community pharmacy. All data collected were analysed descriptively. Bivariate Pearson correlations were performed to determine whether interrelationships existed between specific domains. RESULTS: All 77 pharmacists completed the questionnaire. Thirty-two percent had not completed any asthma related CPD in the past year and only 25% of pharmacists reported using the national asthma guidelines in practice. Just over half of the pharmacists (54%) reported that they provide device technique demonstrations for new inhaled medicines, and 35% of pharmacists reported that they check for written asthma self-management plan possession. Although 65% of pharmacists reported confidence in communication skills, most pharmacists were not confident in setting short-/long-term goals with the patient and carer for managing asthma at home. Pharmacists believed that they are just as effective as doctors in providing asthma counseling and education. Lack of time was identified as a significant barrier. CONCLUSION: We have identified a gap between guideline recommended practices and the self-reported practices of community pharmacists. Pharmacists need more appropriate continuing education programs that can translate into improved pediatric asthma self-management practices and thus improved asthma outcomes in children. This may require an alternative approach.

The reliability and utility of spirometry performed on people with asthma in community pharmacies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability and the utility of spirometry generated by community pharmacists participating in two large asthma intervention trials of 892 people. METHODS: The Pharmacy Asthma Care Program (PACP) and the Pharmacy Asthma Management Service (PAMS) involved up to four visits to the pharmacy over 6 months for counseling and goal setting. Pharmacists performed spirometry according to ATS/ERS guidelines to inform management. The proportion of A-E, F quality tests, as per EasyOne QC grades, were recorded. Lung function results between visits and for participants referred/not referred to their general practitioner on the basis of spirometry were compared. RESULTS: Complete data from 2593 spirometry sessions were recorded, 68.5% of spirometry sessions achieved three acceptable tests with between-test repeatability of 150 ml or less (A or B quality), 96% of spirometry sessions included at least one test that met ATS/ERS acceptability criteria. About 39.1% of participants had FEV1/FVC values below the lower limit of normal (LNN), indicating a respiratory obstruction. As a result of the service, there was a significant increase in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC and asthma control. Lung function values were significantly poorer for participants referred to their general practitioner, compared with those not referred, on the basis of spirometry. CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacists are able to reliably achieve spirometry results meeting ATS/ERS guidelines in people with asthma. Significant improvements in airway obstruction were demonstrated with the pharmacy services. Pharmacists interpreted lung function results to identify airway obstruction for referral, making this a useful technique for review of people with asthma in the community.

Patient asthma networks: understanding who is important and why.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary care (MDC) has been proposed as an essential component to the delivery of effective and efficient health care. However, patients have shown to establish their own sources of health advice and support outside the professional domain. It remained unclear as to how patients' choices may impact on MDC. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the role of patients in MDC, specifically (i) how and why patients select sources of health services, information and support, that is, their health connections and (ii) the key elements contributing to the nature and development of patients' health connections. METHODS: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with asthma participants from Sydney, Australia. Participants were recruited from a broad range of primary health-care access points. Face-to-face and telephone interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, independently reviewed by two authors and analysed using a qualitative approach. RESULTS: A total of 47 interviews were conducted. Participants established health connections around their asthma needs and selected a combination of professional, personal and impersonal health connections for advice and support. Several key elements were reported to contribute towards the nature and development of patients' health networks. These included participants' perceptions of the role of HCPs, their level of trust in relationships, the convenience of accessing health advice and their perceptions of asthma. CONCLUSION: By exploring patients' sources of health advice and support, this research provided new insight into how patients choose to manage asthma, particularly the way in which they selected health connections and their potential impact on MDC.

Preparing pharmacists to deliver a targeted service in hypertension management: evaluation of an interprofessional training program.

BACKGROUND: Non-adherence to medicines by patients and suboptimal prescribing by clinicians underpin poor blood pressure (BP) control in hypertension. In this study, a training program was designed to enable community pharmacists to deliver a service in hypertension management targeting therapeutic adjustments and medication adherence. A comprehensive evaluation of the training program was undertaken. METHODS: Tailored training comprising a self-directed pre-work manual, practical workshop (using real patients), and practice scenarios, was developed and delivered by an inter-professional team (pharmacists, GPs). Supported by practical and written assessment, the training focused on the principles of BP management, BP measurement skills, and adherence strategies. Pharmacists' experience of the training (expectations, content, format, relevance) was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. Immediate feedback was obtained via a questionnaire comprising Likert scales (1 = "very well" to 7 = "poor") and open-ended questions. Further in-depth qualitative evaluation was undertaken via semi-structured interviews several months post-training (and post service implementation). RESULTS: Seventeen pharmacists were recruited, trained and assessed as competent. All were highly satisfied with the training; other than the 'amount of information provided' (median score = 5, "just right"), all aspects of training attained the most positive score of '1'. Pharmacists most valued the integrated team-based approach, GP involvement, and inclusion of real patients, as well as the pre-reading manual, BP measurement workshop, and case studies (simulation). Post-implementation the interviews highlighted that comprehensive training increased pharmacists' confidence in providing the service, however, training of other pharmacy staff and patient recruitment strategies were highlighted as a need in future. CONCLUSIONS: Structured, multi-modal training involving simulated and inter-professional learning is effective in preparing selected community pharmacists for the implementation of new services in the context of hypertension management. This training could be further enhanced to prepare pharmacists for the challenges encountered in implementing and evaluating services in practice.

Receptor for advanced glycation end products and its ligand high-mobility group box-1 mediate allergic airway sensitization and airway inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) shares common ligands and signaling pathways with TLR4, a key mediator of house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) (HDM) sensitization. We hypothesized that RAGE and its ligand high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) cooperate with TLR4 to mediate HDM sensitization. OBJECTIVES: To determine the requirement for HMGB1 and RAGE, and their relationship with TLR4, in airway sensitization. METHODS: TLR4(-/-), RAGE(-/-), and RAGE-TLR4(-/-) mice were intranasally exposed to HDM or cockroach (Blatella germanica) extracts, and features of allergic inflammation were measured during the sensitization or challenge phase. Anti-HMGB1 antibody and the IL-1 receptor antagonist Anakinra were used to inhibit HMGB1 and the IL-1 receptor, respectively. RESULTS: The magnitude of allergic airway inflammation in response to either HDM or cockroach sensitization and/or challenge was significantly reduced in the absence of RAGE but not further diminished in the absence of both RAGE and TLR4. HDM sensitization induced the release of HMGB1 from the airway epithelium in a biphasic manner, which corresponded to the sequential activation of TLR4 then RAGE. Release of HMGB1 in response to cockroach sensitization also was RAGE dependent. Significantly, HMGB1 release occurred downstream of TLR4-induced IL-1α, and upstream of IL-25 and IL-33 production. Adoptive transfer of HDM-pulsed RAGE(+/+)dendritic cells to RAGE(-/-) mice recapitulated the allergic responses after HDM challenge. Immunoneutralization of HMGB1 attenuated HDM-induced allergic airway inflammation. CONCLUSION: The HMGB1-RAGE axis mediates allergic airway sensitization and airway inflammation. Activation of this axis in response to different allergens acts to amplify the allergic inflammatory response, which exposes it as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.

Corticosteroids inhibit sphingosine 1-phosphate-induced interleukin-6 secretion from human airway smooth muscle via mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1-mediated repression of mitogen and stress-activated protein kinase 1.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid that plays an important proinflammatory role in asthmatic airways. Corticosteroids are first-line antiinflammatories in asthma; however, their repressive effects on S1P-induced cytokine secretion have not been investigated. To address this, our in vitro study reveals the molecular mechanisms by which corticosteroids inhibit S1P-induced IL-6 expression in the pivotal immunomodulatory cell type, airway smooth muscle (ASM). We first uncover the cellular signaling pathways responsible: S1P activates a cyclic adenosine monophosphate/cAMP response-element-binding protein (CREB)/CRE-dependent pathway to induce IL-6 transcription, concomitant with stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) superfamily and downstream mitogen and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1) and histone H3 phosphorylation. In this way, S1P stimulates parallel signaling pathways to induce IL-6 secretion via CRE-driven transcription of the IL-6 gene promoter in a relaxed chromatin environment achieved through histone H3 phosphorylation. Second, we investigated how corticosteroids mediate their repressive effects. The corticosteroid dexamethasone inhibits S1P-induced IL-6 protein secretion and mRNA expression, but CREB/CRE transrepression, inhibition of IL-6 mRNA stability, or subcellular relocation of MSK1 were not responsible for the repressive effects of dexamethasone. Rather, we show that dexamethasone rapidly induces up-regulation of the MAPK deactivator MAPK phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) and that MKP-1 blocks the MAPK-driven activation of MSK1 and phosphorylation of histone H3. This was confirmed by treatment with triptolide, an inhibitor of MKP-1 up-regulation, where repressive effects of corticosteroids were reversed. Our study reveals the molecular mechanism underlying the antiinflammatory capacity of corticosteroids to repress proinflammatory functions induced by the potent bioactive sphingolipid S1P in the lung.

Consumer perspectives about weight management services in a community pharmacy setting in NSW, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a public health challenge faced worldwide. Community pharmacists may be well placed to manage Australia's obesity problem owing to their training, accessibility and trustworthiness. However, determining consumers' needs is vital to the development of any new services or the evaluation of existing services. OBJECTIVE: To explore Australian consumers' perspectives regarding weight management services in the community pharmacy setting, including their past experiences and willingness to pay for a specific pharmacy-based service. DESIGN: An online cross-sectional consumer survey was distributed through a marketing research company. The survey instrument comprised open-ended and closed questions exploring consumers' experiences of and preferences for weight management services in pharmacy. It also included an attitudinal measure, the Consumer Attitude to Pharmacy Weight Management Services (CAPWMS) scale. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 403 consumers from New South Wales, Australia, completed the survey. RESULTS: The majority of respondents had previously not sought a pharmacist's advice regarding weight management. Those who had previously consulted a pharmacist were more willing to pay for and support pharmacy-based services in the future. Most consumers considered pharmacists' motivations to provide advice related to gaining profit from selling a product and expressed concerns about the perceived conflicts of interest. Participants also perceived pharmacists as lacking expertise and time. CONCLUSION: Although Australian consumers were willing to seek pharmacists' advice about weight management, they perceived several barriers to the provision of weight management services in community pharmacy. If barriers are addressed, community pharmacies could be a viable and accessible setting to manage obesity.

Effectiveness of computerized clinical decision support systems for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The use of computerized clinical decision support systems may improve the diagnosis and ongoing management of chronic diseases, which requires recurrent visits to multiple health professionals, disease and medication monitoring and modification of patient behavior. The aim of this review was to systematically review randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of computerized clinical decision systems (CCDSS) in the care of people with asthma and COPD. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials published between 2003 and 2013 were searched using multiple electronic databases Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, IPA, Informit, PsychINFO, Compendex, and Cochrane Clinical Controlled Trials Register databases. To be included, RCTs had to evaluate the role of the CCDSSs for asthma and/or COPD in primary care. RESULTS: Nineteen studies representing 16 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The majority of the trials were conducted in patients with asthma. Study quality was generally high. Meta-analysis was not conducted because of methodological and clinical heterogeneity. The use of CCDSS improved asthma and COPD care in 14 of the 19 studies reviewed (74%). Nine of the nineteen studies showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the primary outcomes measured. The majority of the studies evaluated health care process measures as their primary outcomes (10/19). CONCLUSION: Evidence supports the effectiveness of CCDSS in the care of people with asthma. However there is very little information of its use in COPD care. Although there is considerable improvement in the health care process measures and clinical outcomes through the use of CCDSSs, its effects on user workload and efficiency, safety, costs of care, provider and patient satisfaction remain understudied.

Insomnia patients' help-seeking experiences.

Timely access to appropriate treatment is important for optimizing insomnia management. To date, little is known about insomnia patients' treatment experiences or how they access and engage with the available health care resources. This study sought to capture the help-seeking experiences and behavioral patterns of patients with insomnia who are seeking or receiving specialist care. A purposive sample of 26 insomnia patients from specialist sleep and mental health clinics located in metropolitan New South Wales, Australia was recruited. Participants completed a brief questionnaire, followed by an in-depth, semi-structured interview. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using framework analysis. Three key themes emerged from the data: patients' sleep beliefs, treatment beliefs, and accessing specialized care. The findings show that daytime symptoms arising from insomnia serve as important illness cues for patients to seek medical help. In addition, participants' treatment pathways highlight factors that prevent the widespread use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), including limited awareness about CBT-I, tentative referral mechanisms, limited service providers, and the high cost of CBT-I.

Development and evaluation of an innovative model of inter-professional education focused on asthma medication use.

BACKGROUND: Inter-professional learning has been promoted as the solution to many clinical management issues. One such issue is the correct use of asthma inhaler devices. Up to 80% of people with asthma use their inhaler device incorrectly. The implications of this are poor asthma control and quality of life. Correct inhaler technique can be taught, however these educational instructions need to be repeated if correct technique is to be maintained. It is important to maximise the opportunities to deliver this education in primary care. In light of this, it is important to explore how health care providers, in particular pharmacists and general medical practitioners, can work together in delivering inhaler technique education to patients, over time. Therefore, there is a need to develop and evaluate effective inter-professional education, which will address the need to educate patients in the correct use of their inhalers as well as equip health care professionals with skills to engage in collaborative relationships with each other. METHODS: This mixed methods study involves the development and evaluation of three modules of continuing education, Model 1, Model 2 and Model 3. A fourth group, Model 4, acting as a control.Model 1 consists of face-to-face continuing professional education on asthma inhaler technique, aimed at pharmacists, general medical practitioners and their practice nurses.Model 2 is an electronic online continuing education module based on Model 1 principles.Model 3 is also based on asthma inhaler technique education but employs a learning intervention targeting health care professional relationships and is based on sociocultural theory.This study took the form of a parallel group, repeated measure design. Following the completion of continuing professional education, health care professionals recruited people with asthma and followed them up for 6 months. During this period, inhaler device technique training was delivered and data on patient inhaler technique, clinical and humanistic outcomes were collected. Outcomes related to professional collaborative relationships were also measured. DISCUSSION: Challenges presented included the requirement of significant financial resources for development of study materials and limited availability of validated tools to measure health care professional collaboration over time.