Pharmacies Will Offer Information About The Disease And Most Common Inhaler Devices
Only 9% of patients with asthma in Spain use their inhaler correctly. The action is carried out for the second consecutive year within the framework of the Respirar es Vida Program and is the result of the co
The initiative will take place on May 3 and is aimed at patients with asthma, who will be able to resolve their doubts with nursing professionals and community pharmacists.
Only 9% of patients with asthma in Spain use their inhaler correctly, despite the fact that both they and health professionals are aware of the importance of performing the inhalation technique correctly so that the treatment offers results1. Not following the prescribed therapy properly is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, as well as a greater use of health services and resources.
Regular review of inhalation technique is one of the keys to asthma control. For this reason, Foundation lovexair and laboratories Chiesi promote an information and training activity on the occasion of World Asthma Day 2016. The initiative will take place on Tuesday, May 3 simultaneously in pharmacy offices distributed throughout the Spanish geography.
In each of them, a community nurse or pharmacist will offer information and resolve the doubts of respiratory patients and their relatives and/or caregivers in relation to asthma and the correct use of the most widely used inhalation devices: cartridges, inhalation chambers or dry powder devices.
Permanent patient support
Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic respiratory diseases: in Spain, it affects 5% of adults and 8-10% of the child population2. Inhaled therapy is recommended for the treatment of the disease, because it allows a direct action on the lung and practically immediately. "However, it doesn't matter how good a drug may be if it doesn't reach the respiratory tract due to incorrect use of the inhaler device," warns Jordi Giner, Nurse at the Pulmonology Service at the Hospital de la Sta. Creu i Sant Pau (Barcelona). ). "If the technique is not done correctly, less medication will reach the lung and, as a result, we will have an undertreated patient."
The expert emphasizes that the use of inhalers "requires teaching and control by health personnel - both doctors, nurses and pharmacists - at the time the device is prescribed." However, given that asthma is a chronic disease, it is common for patients, over time, to forget the instructions and skills to correctly perform the inhalation technique, "that is why it is important to carry out this type of training and information periodically, to reinforce the patient's knowledge and resolve any doubts that may arise”, explains Jordi Giner.
Among the most frequent errors, not following all the steps (inhale, hold your breath, rinse your mouth, etc.) or not correctly coordinate movements, says Leyre Gaztelurrutia, a community pharmacist at the Andraca Pharmacy of Barakaldo (Bizkaia) and Member of the Respiratory group of the Spanish Society of Family and Community Pharmacy (SEFAC). "Also, many need more than one inhaler and don't remember when to use one or the other." The expert defends the role of the pharmacist in the health education of chronic patients, since in many cases they go to the pharmacy on a daily basis, "which allows us to offer them support and continuous monitoring and, with this, improve therapeutic adherence", emphasizes Leyre Gaztelurrutia.
Another reason for holding the day to mark World Asthma Day is to make patients aware that they should never abandon their medication: according to Jordi Giner, "asthma, unlike other chronic pathologies, has phases of stability in which the affected person has no symptoms. The abandonment of the medication in these periods can lead to a worsening of the disease”.
Supporting information material
In addition to training in the use of inhaler devices, community nurses and pharmacists participating in the initiative will offer recommendations on the basic aspects to be taken into account for proper control of the disease and to prevent a worsening of symptoms, and Informative support materials will be delivered to the patient.
The campaign in pharmacies is being held for the second consecutive year and is the result of the collaboration agreement between Chiesi laboratories and the Lovexair Foundation, whose objective is to carry out joint projects and activities in the field of respiratory and pulmonary diseases.
All the information about the action on the occasion of World Asthma Day and the pharmacies that have joined can be consulted at http://lovexair.net/dia-mundial-del-asma-2016/
About the Lovexair Foundation
Lovexair is a non-profit foundation whose main objective is to raise awareness in society about the importance of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. The Foundation offers personalized attention and accompaniment to people affected by this type of pathology, while at the same time supporting health professionals, pharmacies and industry, and working in the field of research and m-health to offer innovative solutions that contribute to improve the daily life of respiratory patients.
With the support of health professionals and pharmacists, the Foundation is currently developing projects at a local level aimed at respiratory patients, as well as their families or caregivers, in order to train them for self-care, stimulate their active life and improve their quality of life. http://www.lovexair.com
About the Breathing is Life Program
The Breathe is Life Program was born with the aim of contributing to the knowledge and awareness of the population about asthma and COPD, two of the most prevalent respiratory diseases. It offers practical, reliable and quality information from experts in the field. The activities carried out within the framework of the Respirar es Vida Program are aimed at people with asthma and COPD, relatives and friends, as well as the press and health professionals.
Chiesi's commitment to chronic respiratory diseases
As a result of Chiesi's commitment to research into respiratory diseases, in 2008 the company launched Foster® on the market, the first pMDI device with extrafine particles. With the arrival of NEXThaler, Chiesi reaffirms its commitment to improving the quality of life of respiratory patients by working on the development of new inhalation devices. Thanks to years of research, Chiesi has developed inhalation systems capable of reaching the small airway and optimizing the effectiveness of the extrafine particles (less than 1,5 µm in diameter) that are generated in the devices.
I asked Pharmaceuticals
CHIESI Laboratories is a pharmaceutical multinational based in Parma (Italy) created more than 75 years ago. In recent years, its policy of promoting R&D (to which it dedicates 15% of its turnover) and new acquisitions have made it possible for it to reach sales in excess of 2010 million euros in 1.000. It has three production plants (Italy, France and Brazil) and four research centers in Italy, France, Great Britain and the United States. It has a strong presence in Europe (including Spain) and throughout the world (United States, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, China, Russia, Egypt and the Maghreb countries).
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