A study of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with COPD shows that pharmacist-led telephone education significantly reduces errors in medication delivery.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Reduced Misuse: Inhaler misuse among study participants decreased from nearly 40% to less than 7% after a single phone-based education session with a pharmacist.
- Remote Training: Remote, pharmacist-led education provides a convenient way for patients to receive personalized guidance and improve their medication management.
- Long-Term Maintenance: Ongoing, multi-session training is a key factor in helping patients maintain correct inhaler technique across all device types and patient subgroups.
A phone-based education program significantly improved inhaler technique among Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with COPD, according to a study published in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation.
The study, which included nearly 2,000 participants in 2020, focused on Humana members with low medication adherence. At the start of the program, approximately 40% of participants were using their inhalers incorrectly. Following the first telephone education session with a pharmacist, misuse rates dropped to less than 7%.
Positive outcomes were observed across all types of inhaler devices and patient subgroups. The researchers noted that ongoing, multi-session education was essential for helping patients maintain correct inhaler use over time.
“Using a COPD inhaler can be challenging because it requires precise timing and coordination, as well as understanding the correct steps to ensure the medication is delivered effectively to the lungs,” said Emily Thomas, a pharmacist who served as the program leader. “A phone-based education program offers a convenient way for patients to receive personalized guidance and support, helping them improve their inhaler technique and better manage their condition.”
The findings suggest that remote, pharmacist-led training may help individuals better manage their condition, particularly those who are more likely to struggle with proper technique.
“When used correctly, respiratory inhalers deliver the cornerstone of treatments to prevent and reduce COPD symptoms; however, inhaler misuse is pervasive,” said Valerie Press, MD, MPH, a physician-researcher at UChicago Medicine. “Guidelines recommend inhaler technique assessment and teaching at all healthcare encounters to mitigate this misuse. This insurance-based program extends the reach of this critical education to provide necessary medication education.”
Why didn’t the pharmacist confirm patient instruction when first dispensed? With inhaler cost and patient’s not getting the benefit of the medication, why brag?