Community pharmacists’ knowledge of COPD, and practices and perceptions of medication counseling of COPD patients

Abstract

Background and purpose

COPD is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although medication counseling interventions by pharmacists have been found to support the management of COPD, little is known about pharmacists’ knowledge concerning COPD and regular practices and perceptions concerning medication counseling of COPD patients. The purpose of this study was to research these topics among Finnish community pharmacists.

Materials and methods

In January 2017, an electronic survey was e-mailed to Finnish community pharmacies (n=741) via the Association of the Finnish Pharmacies. One pharmacist from each pharmacy, preferably a specialist in asthma, was invited to answer the survey.

Results

Completed responses were received from 263 pharmacists (response rate =35%), of whom 196 pharmacists were specialists in asthma. Response rate among asthma pharmacists was 42%. Pharmacists were positive about their role in medication counseling and in support of the self-management of COPD patients. COPD-related knowledge was self-assessed as being good and was on a good level in respect of basic facts. However, almost half (46%) of the pharmacists did not know that COPD is considered a national public health issue, and ~50% of the pharmacists were not familiar with the current care guideline on COPD. Medication counseling was found to be more medicinal product-driven and less advisory concerning lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation and physical exercise.

Conclusion

Although the pharmacists’ knowledge of COPD was good on general topics, there were some gaps in their knowledge on the current care guideline and status of the disease. Pharmacists should more systematically individually target medication counseling according to patients’ needs. In addition, lifestyle treatments, including smoking cessation and physical exercise, should be part of the medication counseling.

Keywords:

• pulmonary disease
• medication counseling
• pharmacists
• clinical practice guideline
• knowledge

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge all the participants in the survey.

Author contributions

All the authors have substantial contributions to conception and design and acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data. JH has been a key person in analyzing the data and drafting the manuscript. All other authors have participated in preparation by critically revising and finalizing the manuscript, gave final approval of the version to be published and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.