INSIGHTS ON ALLERGIC RHINITIS MANAGEMENT AND IMPACT OF PHARMACIST-LED EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION ON PATIENTS’ KNOWLEDGE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

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Kanwal Arif Malik
Fahad Asim
Faiza Mohsin
Kanwal Mazhar
Rimsha Shahid
Sadia Zafar
Noor e Sehar Butt
Uneeb Asif
Malik Junaid Arif
Naba Shabbir
Mazhar Javed

Keywords

Allergic Rhinitis (AR), Pharmacist, Intranasal Therapy (INT), Nasal Corticosteroids (NCS), McNamar

Abstract

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disorder that is strongly linked to asthma and conjunctivitis. Intranasal therapy (INT) remains the backbone of allergic rhinitis management.


Aims: The present study aimed to assess the impact of pharmacist-led educational intervention on the management of AR.


Methodology: This prospective interventional study includes rhinitis patients from Quaid-i- Azam International Hospital and community pharmacists from pharmacy setups in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pre- and post-intervention competency was assessed and evaluated statistically. AR management of patients was evaluated through skin prick test and AR Control Questionnaire (ARC) scores.


Results: Registered pharmacists from 100 pharmacies were included in this study including 71% male and 29% female pharmacists (p value < 0.0001). All pharmacists were interviewed to assess their knowledge about AR, patients’ symptoms, and the management of Nasal Corticosteroid (NCS) usage in patients (7 days, 14 days or 1 month). Pharmacists were also categorized as competent and non-competent in NCS demonstration based upon the ability of pharmacists to demonstrate all the essential steps correctly with a total score of ≥ 5.


Conclusion: The data showed that before intervention only 24 pharmacists scored seven, demonstrating all the essential steps and were considered and classified as non-competent (p- value 0.05). McNamar tests analysis showed that pharmacists’ competence level was significantly improved from 29% before educational intervention to 48% after intervention (p- value 0.0057).

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