Abstract

IMPACT OF CLINICAL PHARMACIST COUNSELLING ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN COPD PATIENTS

Dr. S. Allimalarkodi*, Tony Alex, Sneha V. Louis, Sushmitha S., Dr. K. P. Saravana Prakash and Dr. V. Ganesan

ABSTRACT

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem faced globally characterized by chronic airflow limitation. COPD and its associated symptoms such as dyspnea, cough and fatigue, causes restrictions of patients’ exercise tolerance and consequently have a major impact on their ability to carry out daily activities, thus resulting in a reduced health related quality of life. The St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire is an instrument designed to measure health impairment in patients with COPD. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacist counselling on health-related quality of life in COPD patients. Methods: A prospective, interventional study was carried out in the general medicine department for a period of 6 months at the Government Headquarters Hospital, Tirupur. The patients were enrolled based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and were divided into two equal groups: Non-counselling group and Counselling group. Results: A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study out of which majority of the patients were belonging to the age group of 60 to 70 years. Males (n=61) constituted the majority of study subjects. Out of the 100 patients 84 % were smokers and 68% were alcoholics. About 45% of the subjects were involved in labour works. The counselling group showed a significant improvement in the mean total SGRQ score compared to that of non-counselling group. Conclusion: From this study it was able to conclude that there is a significant impact of clinical pharmacist counselling on the health-related quality of life of COPD patients.

Keywords: COPD, Clinical pharmacist, Health-related quality of life, Patient counselling.