In C+D’s latest podcast, clinical editor Naimah Callachand spoke to Laura King – a clinical nurse specialist for children’s asthma for Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Ms King explained how poor asthma control can increase the risk of long-term conditions. The National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) (2014) found that 46% of asthma deaths had been identified as avoidable.
Pharmacists are well placed to encourage self-management of the condition – such as advising on correct inhaler use and identifying signs and symptom of poor asthma control. Pharmacists can also educate patients and parents or carers about the exposure to allergens, allergen avoidance and advising smokers with asthma on smoking cessation.
The NRAD also demonstrated that personal asthma action plans (PAAPs) can improve asthma care, and of those asthma-related deaths, only 23% of patients had been provided with a PAAP.
Ms King discussed how a PAAP could be completed by a pharmacist on dispensing of asthma medication or reviewed by the pharmacist to ensure patients are receiving optimum benefit from their asthma treatment.
You can listen to the podcast below. Alternatively, subscribe to C+D's podcasts on iTunes or by searching “Chemist+Druggist podcast” on your preferred Android podcast app.
- Additional resources and personalised asthma action plans can be found on the Asthma UK website. Resources include free asthma packs which parents can order for children and inhaler technique videos.
- More information on inhalers and instructional videos can be found on the free RightBreath App.
- Education for Health offer free e-learning asthma modules to support child and adolescent health.
Please note, the sound quality of this podcast may be affected as it has been recorded remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak.
To keep up with the latest updates for community pharmacy visit our COVID-19 hub.
