Impact of a network system for providing proper inhalation technique by community pharmacists.

Abstract

The availability of many types of inhalers in the treatment of asthma has resulted in a wide range of prescription choices for clinicians. With so many devices available, however, there is some confusion regarding their proper use among both medical staff and patients. Since 2007, Kitano Hospital and Kita-ku Pharmaceutical Association, Osaka, Japan, have provided a network system for delivering instruction on correct inhalation technique through community pharmacists. We examined the clinical effects of this network system.