The evolutionary role of pharmacists in asthma management

With an increasing prevalence, asthma continues to be a significant public health problem, as is the case in the urban setting of the Accra Metropolis. This study examined the changing role of community pharmacists in asthma care by reviewing what they knew, what they did, and what barriers might be to their ability to provide optimal care. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire, cross-sectionally surveying 177 pharmacists to obtain self-reports on demographics, asthma knowledge, practice, and barriers. Descriptive statistics and the results were presented as data analysis frequencies and percentages. The results indicated that pharmacists possessed a good knowledge of asthma management (55.93%), a good understanding of pathophysiology, and the use of devices like peak expiratory flow (PEF) meters. However, only 49.15 % regularly counselled patients on inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) adherence, and only 18.64 % ensured that patients had asthma action plans, highlighting practice gaps. The key barriers were no asthma action plans (81.4%), inadequate training (64.4%), and insufficient consultation spaces (52.5%). 52.5% of pharmacists complained of time constraints, while 55.9% of patients could not make time for counselling. The findings suggest that there is a potential for pharmacists to have a transformative role in the management of asthma. Future recommendations include pharmacists' integration into formal frameworks of asthma care, provision of financial incentives, and provoking the public to view pharmacists as key players in asthma care. The measures could boost pharmacists’ ability to give total asthma care to patients located in Greater Accra and other urban areas.