Opportunities to develop the professional role of community pharmacists in the care of patients with asthma: a cross-sectional study.

There are many indications in Australia and globally that asthma management is suboptimal. Ideally, patients need to proactively self-manage the condition with the support of health professionals. Community pharmacists are a highly accessible resource for patients but currently provide inconsistent services.

Implementation of asthma guidelines to West Australian community pharmacies: an exploratory, quasi-experimental study.

Objectives: Pharmacy assistants are often the first point of contact for patients presenting in community pharmacies. The current role of pharmacy assistants in the supply of asthma-reliever medications (short-acting β-agonists) was identified as a barrier to appropriate guideline-based care. The aim of this research was to devise and evaluate a team-based intervention to formalise the role of pharmacy assistants and to improve asthma guideline-based care in community pharmacy.

Indwelling pleural catheters reduce inpatient days over pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion.

Background: Patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) have limited prognoses. They require long-lasting symptom relief with minimal hospitalization. Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) and talc pleurodesis are approved treatments for MPE.

Provision of primary care to patients with chronic cough in the community pharmacy setting.

Background: Community pharmacies are at the forefront of primary care providers and have an important role in the referral of patients to a medical practitioner for review when necessary. Chronic cough is a common disorder in the community and requires medical assessment. The proficiency of community pharmacy staff to refer patients with chronic cough is currently unknown.

Intern pharmacists as change agents to improve the practice of nonprescription medication supply: provision of salbutamol to patients with asthma.

Background: Earlier work established an evidence practice gap during provision of nonprescription salbutamol (albuterol). Pharmacist interns are hypothesized to be in a position to improve professional practice in the community pharmacy setting.

Objective: To explore the potential of intern pharmacists to improve the professional practice of community pharmacy staff in the provision of nonprescription salbutamol.

Measuring the assessment and counseling provided with the supply of nonprescription asthma reliever medication: a simulated patient study.

Background: Over one quarter of asthma reliever medications are provided without prescription by community pharmacies in Australia. Evidence that community pharmacies provide these medications with sufficient patient assessment and medication counseling to ensure compliance with the government's Quality Use of Medicines principles is currently lacking.

Objective: To assess current practice when asthma reliever medication is provided in the community pharmacy setting and to identify factors that correlate with assessment of asthma control.