Impact of a pharmacy-led screening and intervention in people at risk of or living with chronic kidney disease in a primary care setting: a cluster randomised trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly recognised as a growing global public health problem. Early detection and management can significantly reduce the loss of kidney function. The proposed trial aims to evaluate the impact of a community pharmacy-led intervention combining CKD screening and medication review on CKD detection and quality use of medicines (QUM) for patients with CKD. We hypothesise that the proposed intervention will enhance detection of newly diagnosed CKD cases and reduce potentially inappropriate medications use by people at risk of or living with CKD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a multicentre, pragmatic, two-level cluster randomised controlled trial which will be conducted across different regions in Australia. Clusters of community pharmacies from geographical groups of co-located postcodes will be randomised. The project will be conducted in 122 community pharmacies distributed across metropolitan and rural areas. The trial consists of two arms: (1) Control Group: a risk assessment using the QKidney CKD risk assessment tool, and (2) Intervention Group: a risk assessment using the QKidney CKD plus Point-of-Care Testing for kidney function markers (serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate), followed by a QUM service. The primary outcomes of the study are the proportion of patients newly diagnosed with CKD at the end of the study period (12 months); and rates of changes in the number of medications considered problematic in kidney disease (number of medications prescribed at inappropriate doses based on kidney function and/or number of nephrotoxic medications) over the same period. Secondary outcomes include proportion of people on potentially inappropriate medications, types of recommendations provided by the pharmacist (and acceptance rate by general practitioners), proportion of people who were screened, referred, and took up the referral to visit their general practitioners, and economic and other patient-centred outcomes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial protocol has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Sydney (2022/044) and the findings of the study will be presented at scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journal(s). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000329763).

COPD Management in Community Pharmacy Results in Improved Inhaler Use, Immunization Rate, COPD Action Plan Ownership, COPD Knowledge, and Reductions in Exacerbation Rates.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot community pharmacy care model for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to improve: 1) inhaler technique; 2) medication adherence; and 3) uptake of non-pharmacological treatment and prevention activities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty "host" pharmacies in Sydney were invited to recruit eligible patients and to provide a counselling room/area in their pharmacy for service provision. Eligible patients were referred to two "consultant" pharmacists, specifically trained to deliver a specialized pharmacy COPD service which involved 3 in-pharmacy visits and 2 follow-up phone calls over a 6-month period. The service consisted of 1) inhaler technique assessment; 2) medication adherence assessment; and 3) referrals to the patient's general practitioner (GP) to facilitate the uptake of non-pharmacological resources as well as to review COPD medications/devices, as required. Pre-post analyses were conducted using paired Student's t-test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test for independent variables and chi-squared tests for proportional data. RESULTS: Nine "host" pharmacies recruited 40 patients, of whom 37 completed the baseline Visit and 27 completed all Visits. A total of 270 interventions were provided by the "consultant" pharmacists with most provided at Visit 1 (176). The most common interventions were addressing patient gaps in COPD knowledge and inhaler technique. A total of 119 referrals were made to GPs for various reasons, the most common being for a COPD action plan, pulmonary rehabilitation, or pneumonia vaccination. There were significant improvements pre-post intervention in inhaler use competence, COPD knowledge, immunization rate for pneumonia, exacerbation rate and COPD plan ownership. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, the specialized pharmacy-based COPD care model delivered by "consultant" pharmacists in community pharmacies provided significant health benefits for patients. Further research is needed to assess the model's effectiveness in a larger population as well as when measured against standard care.

A mixed methods analysis of community pharmacists' perspectives on delivering COPD screening service to guide future implementation.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that COPD screening by community pharmacists is effective, but it is unknown if it can be successfully implemented in Australian pharmacies. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the pharmacist-perceived barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a community pharmacy-based COPD screening service guided by implementation science methodology. METHODS: Trained pharmacists participated in a 6 month longitudinal study designed and based on implementation science frameworks. Pharmacists completed feedback questionnaires pre-and post-study and participated in semi-structured telephone interviews about their experience of implementing the service, the training provided, their views on patient recruitment, their interactions with health professionals and patients, and their future recommendations for such a service. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, analysed thematically, and questionnaire and interview data were triangulated. RESULTS: Of 20 pharmacists providing questionnaire data, 15 pharmacists (male 53%; age 39.8 ±â€¯8.6yrs, rural 47%) participated in an interview. Questionnaire data revealed that pharmacists engaged positively with the service and reported that it was very useful for patients and for the profession. In-depth qualitative analysis revealed 6 main implementation themes: 1. Patient recruitment (pharmacists lacked patient recruitment skills), 2. Adaptation and entrepreneurship (protocol adaptation increased patient engagement), 3. Training and resource needs (face-to-face training was preferred for skill-based learning), 4. Lack of GP involvement (sub-optimal GP-pharmacist collaboration), 5. Factors related to the operation or full implementation phase (high professional satisfaction, need for remuneration) and 6. Suggestions for refining the screening service (raise public awareness about the service, provide service remuneration, use electronic methods to improve GP referral uptake). A number of effective adaptations to the service were reported by pharmacists, such as advertising, recruitment practices, patient inclusion criteria and inter-professional communication with GPs which would be beneficial to implementation. CONCLUSION: This mixed methods study identified a number of key facilitators to service implementation and challenges such as difficulty with patient recruitment, low public awareness of pharmacy-based clinical services, remuneration, and sub-optimal GP-pharmacist collaboration. Working with stakeholders to identify and resolve challenges and to optimise the fit of the service for individual settings may lead to increasingly successful implementation of pharmacy-based service models.

Community pharmacy-based case finding for COPD in urban and rural settings is feasible and effective.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Case finding of patients at risk of COPD by community pharmacists could identify a substantial number of people with undiagnosed COPD, but little is known about the feasibility and effectiveness of pharmacy-based COPD case finding using microspirometry. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of COPD case-finding service provided by community pharmacists, utilizing a combination of risk assessment questionnaire and microspirometry. METHODS: A 6-month service was conducted in 21 community pharmacies in Australia. Pharmacists trained in COPD case finding, including lung function test (LFT), invited their patients aged ≥35 years with a history of smoking and/or respiratory symptoms to participate. High-risk patients were identified via a COPD risk assessment questionnaire (Initial Screening Questionnaire [ISQ]) and underwent LFT. Pharmacists referred patients with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV6) ratio <0.75 to their general practitioner (GP) for further assessment and diagnosis. RESULTS: In all, 91 of 167 (54%) patients had an ISQ score >3 indicating high COPD risk. Of the 157 patients who were able to complete LFT, 61 (39%) had an FEV1/FEV6 ratio of <0.75 and were referred to their GP. Patients with high ISQ symptoms scores (>3) were at a significantly higher risk of an FEV1/FEV6 ratio of <0.75, compared to patients with fewer COPD symptoms. A total of 15 (10%) patients were diagnosed with COPD by their GP. Another eight (5%) patients were diagnosed with other medical conditions and 87% of these were initiated on treatment. Although only half of all screened patients lived in regional areas, 93% of those diagnosed with COPD were from regional areas. CONCLUSION: A brief community pharmacy-based COPD case-finding service utilizing the ISQ, LFT and GP referral is feasible and may lead to identification and diagnosis of a substantial number of people with COPD. This might be an important strategy for reducing the burden of COPD, particularly for those living in rural locations.

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.

The role of community pharmacists in screening and subsequent management of chronic respiratory diseases: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to evaluate the role of community pharmacists in provision of screening with/without subsequent management of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and uncontrolled asthma. METHODS: An extensive literature search using four databases (ie. Medline, PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) and Scopus) with search terms pharmacy, screening, asthma or COPD was conducted. Searches were limited to the years 2003-2013, those in English and those reporting research with humans. Data retrieval, analysis and result presentation employed a scoping review method. RESULTS: Seventeen articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, of which fifteen studies were based on people with asthma and two were based on people with COPD. Only seven asthma studies and one COPD study involved screening followed by subsequent management. More than half of the people screened were found to be poorly controlled and up to 62% of people were identified at high risk for COPD by community pharmacists. The studies varied in the method and type of asthma control assessment/screening, the type of intervention provided and the outcomes measured. The limitations of the reviewed studies included varying definitions of asthma control, different study methodologies, and the lack of long-term follow-up. While many different methods were used for risk assessment and management services by the pharmacists, all the studies demonstrated that community pharmacists were capable of identifying people with poorly controlled asthma and undiagnosed COPD and providing them with suitable interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The literature review identified that community pharmacists can play an effective role in screening of people with poorly controlled asthma and undiagnosed COPD along with delivering management interventions. However, there is very little literature available on screening for these chronic respiratory conditions. Future research should focus on development of patient care delivery model incorporating a screening protocol followed by targeted management interventions delivered by the community pharmacist.

The role of community pharmacists in screening and subsequent management of chronic respiratory diseases: a systematic review / Papel de los farmacéuticos comunitarios en rastreo y posterior manejo de enfermedades crónicas respiratorias: revisión sistemática

Objective: The purpose of this review was to evaluate the role of community pharmacists in provision of screening with/without subsequent management of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and uncontrolled asthma. Methods: An extensive literature search using four databases (ie. Medline, PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) and Scopus) with search terms pharmacy, screening, asthma or COPD was conducted. Searches were limited to the years 2003-2013, those in English and those reporting research with humans. Data retrieval, analysis and result presentation employed a scoping review method. Results: Seventeen articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, of which fifteen studies were based on people with asthma and two were based on people with COPD. Only seven asthma studies and one COPD study involved screening followed by subsequent management. More than half of the people screened were found to be poorly controlled and up to 62% of people were identified at high risk for COPD by community pharmacists. The studies varied in the method and type of asthma control assessment/screening, the type of intervention provided and the outcomes measured. The limitations of the reviewed studies included varying definitions of asthma control, different study methodologies, and the lack of long-term follow-up. While many different methods were used for risk assessment and management services by the pharmacists, all the studies demonstrated that community pharmacists were capable of identifying people with poorly controlled asthma and undiagnosed COPD and providing them with suitable interventions. Conclusion: The literature review identified that community pharmacists can play an effective role in screening of people with poorly controlled asthma and undiagnosed COPD along with delivering management interventions. However, there is very little literature available on screening for these chronic respiratory conditions. Future research should focus on development of patient care delivery model incorporating a screening protocol followed by targeted management interventions delivered by the community pharmacist (AU)

Objetivo: El propósito de esta revisión fue evaluar el papel de los farmacéuticos comunitarios en la provisión de rastreos con/sin posterior manejo de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) no diagnosticada y asma no controlada. Métodos: Se realizó una extensiva búsqueda bibliográfica usando cuatro bases de datos (ie. Medline, PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) and Scopus) con términos de búsqueda farmacia, rastreo, asma o EPOC. Las búsquedas se limitaron a los años 2003-2013, a las escritas en inglés, y a las que comunicaban investigación en seres humanos. La recuperación, y análisis de datos y la presentación de resultados se realizaron mediante un método de determinación del alcance. Resultados: 17 artículos cumplieron los criterios de inclusión/exclusión, de los cuales, 15 eran de personas con asma y 2 con EPOC. Sólo 7 de los estudios de asma y uno de los de EPOC envolvían rastreos seguidos del consiguiente manejo. Más de la mitad de las personas rastreadas estaban pobremente controladas y hasta un 62% de las personas fueron identificadas como en alto riesgo de EPOC por los farmacéuticos. Los estudios variaban en el método y tipo de evaluación/rastreo del control de asma, el tipo de intervención realizada y los resultados medidos. Las limitaciones de los estudios revisados incluyeron la diversidad de definiciones de control de asma, las diferentes metodologías de estudio, y la falta de seguimiento a largo plazo. Aunque se utilizaron muchos métodos diferentes de evaluación del riesgo y de servicios de manejo de la enfermedad por los farmacéuticos, todos los estudios demostraron que los farmacéuticos comunitarios eran capaces de identificar personas con asma pobremente controlada y EPOC no diagnosticada y de realizar con ellos las intervenciones apropiadas. Conclusión: La revisión de la literatura identifico que los farmacéuticos comunitarios pueden jugar un papel efectivo en el rastreo de personas con asma pobremente controlado y EPOC no diagnosticada así como realizarles las intervenciones de manejo. Sin embargo, hay muy poca literatura disponible sobre el rastreo de estas enfermedades respiratorias crónicas. La investigación futura debería centrarse en el desarrollo de modelos de atención a pacientes que incorporen un protocolo de rastreo seguido de intervenciones de manejo de la enfermedad proporcionadas por los farmacéuticos comunitarios (AU)