Qualitative study with COPD Patients and Health care professionals.

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A qualitative study in the West Midlands; exploring the views of COPD patients and Health care professionals about the role of pharmacists in supporting patients inhaler medication use and the integration of pharmacists in the management of COPD patients to promote inhaler adherence.

• IRAS ID

  288175

• Contact name

  Dr Birgit Whitman

• Contact email

  researchgovernance@contacts.bham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Birmingham

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  Reference: ERN_20-0342, University of Birmingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 8 months, 6 days

• Research summary

  Background:
  Inhaler medications for COPD patients are an essential part of their treatment, yet adherence is sub-optimal, thus limiting the potential benefit. Patients may find it difficult to understand how and when to take their inhalers, or their long-term benefits. Effective training of inhaler technique could be improved by an integrated approach using other healthcare professionals (HCPs) including pharmacists, with evidence from other countries suggesting they contribute to the successful management and support of COPD patients.

  The proposed study includes; one with COPD patients and one with health care professionals. Both studies will use qualitative interviews to explore the views of both populations in the West Midlands, UK. Across both these studies, we want to explore 1) patients' current use of/contact with pharmacists regarding their inhaler medication, 2) the current role of primary HCPs in optimising patients' inhaler adherence, 3) patients' and HCPs' views about an enhanced pharmacy role to improve adherence to COPD medications, 4) the potential barriers/enablers to the further integration of pharmacists within the patient care pathway. This will enable us to consider possible interventions to support changes in practice.

  Expected Outcomes:
  The study aims to improve understanding of COPD patients current use of pharmacists, and the views of patients and HCPs of an enhanced pharmacy role regarding inhaler technique and inhaler adherence. Patients’ and HCPs’ views will provide useful input for policymakers/ practitioners to understand more about the potential role of pharmacists in helping COPD patients improve inhaler adherence, and to understand the potential barriers and enablers to the integration of pharmacists within the COPD patient care pathway.
  

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/SC/0047

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Mar 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion