Abstract

ROLE OF CLINICAL PHARMACIST IN REDUCING SMOKING FREQUENCY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN COPD PATIENTS BY USING PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT SCALE

Dr. Saravana Prakash K. P.*, Dr. T. Suthanth, Anandhu M.R.* Pharm. D, Muhammed Faisal P.V, Pharm. D, Dr. V. Ganesan., M Pharm, PhD and Dr. J. Nandhakumar. M Pharm, PhD

ABSTRACT

Background: Cigarette smoking continues to be the one of the leading causes of preventable global mortality. Tobacco use is a significant hurdle to development gains worldwide. It is the leading cause of preventable death. Worldwide, only two large and growing causes of death exist. One is HIV-1 infection, and the other is tobacco. On current consumption patterns, about 1 billion people in the 21st century will be killed by their addiction to tobacco. Smoking-related illness costs billions of dollars each year. In spite of their severe symptoms, only some COPD patients manage to give up smoking. Among COPD patients, the proportion of active smokers is notably higher than in the general population.[1] A chronic respiratory disorder increases the risk for depression, and smoking can assume the character of self medication in patients with latent depression (smoking and nicotine as antidepressants). These associations explain why COPD patients find it difficult to stop smoking. Smoking patients with COPD have a particularly high nicotine dependency. Integrated approaches to smoking cessation are therefore required. COPD should be considered in any patient who has dyspnoea, chronic cough or sputum production, and/or history of exposure to risk factors for the disease. A detailed medical history of a new patient who is known, or suspected, to have COPD is essential. Spirometry is required to make the diagnosis in this clinical context; the presence of a post bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.70 confirms the presence of persistent airflow limitation and thus of COPD in patients with appropriate symptoms and significant exposures to noxious stimuli. Spirometry is the most reproducible and objective measurement of airflow limitation. It is a non-invasive and readily available test. Despite its good sensitivity, peak expiratory flow measurement alone cannot be reliably used as the only diagnostic test because of its weak specificity.

Keywords: Smoking frequency, Psychological assessment, COPD patients, psychological assessment scale.