(1292) Spacer Prescribing with Pressurized Metered-dose Inhalers

Objectives: Spacers have been proven to improve inhaled medication delivery and are included on the World Health Organization (WHO) list of essential technology for asthma. However, there are many obstacles to spacer use, including accurate prescribing and counseling, cost, socioeconomic factors, device cleaning, and inconvenience. Community pharmacists have demonstrated the ability to not only dispense and perform, but also prescribe, CONDUCT point of care testing, ADMINISTER immunizations, and PROVIDE medication therapy MANAGEMENT. Therefore, community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to ADDRESS the aforementioned obstacles to spacer use.
The purpose of this study is to determine compliance with GINA asthma treatment guidelines for spacer prescribing with pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). The objectives of this study are to determine the number of patients who are prescribed a pMDI with and without a spacer, and to identify patient specific factors of individuals who receive and do not receive a spacer with their pMDI prescription AT A COMMUNITY PHARMACY.

Methods: A retrospective chart review will be conducted using EnterpriseRx® claims data from prescriptions processed by SpartanNash pharmacies in the state of Michigan. Data collected will include prescribing history of pMDIs and spacers, demographic information, and patient payment. AVAILABLE demographic information FROM ENTERPRISERX will include age, sex, zip code, preferred language, pharmacy location, prescriber, prescriber location and insurance provider. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. Appropriate statistical analysis will be completed between groups who either received or did not receive a spacer AT THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY.

Results: Research in progress

Conclusions: Research in progress