Sustainable Inhaler Prescribing in Intermediate Care Units

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Multidisciplinary inhaler optimization intervention: Within one week of admision, a physician reviews the inhaled therapy prescription (indication, duration) and changes it if needed, also considering environmental impact. A healthcare professional assesses adherence with the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI) and inhaler technique with device-specific checklists (GINA, UK Inhaler Group), and provides individualized education. If the device is not suitable or rescue inhaler use is excessive, the physician considers switching to a lower-impact inhaler (dry powder or soft mist inhaler).

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a multidisciplinary review of inhaler treatment can increase the use of inhalers with a lower environmental impact in adults admitted to intermediate care units who use inhalers. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does the intervention change the percentage of each type of inhaler prescribed (pressurized metered-dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, and soft mist inhalers) between admission and discharge?
* Does the intervention improve treatment adherence and inhaler technique, reduce the use of rescue inhalers, and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions? Researchers will compare patients cared for by physicians who apply the intervention with patients cared for by physicians who do not yet apply it, to see if more patients switch to inhalers with a lower environmental impact.

Participants will:

* Have their inhaler prescription reviewed by a physician, who may change it when clinically appropriate, taking environmental impact into account
* Have their adherence and inhaler technique assessed by a healthcare professional
* Receive individual education on how to use their inhalers, if needed

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Percentage of prescriptions of each inhaler type — At admission and at discharge from the intermediate care unit, maximal up to 1 year from admission
  Percentage of prescriptions of pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDI), dry powder inhalers (DPI), and soft mist inhalers (SMI) in the electronic prescription system, compared between admission and discharge in the intervention and control groups during period 2.

Trial sites (1)

More Consorci Sanitari de l'Alt Penedès i Garraf trials in Spain

Other trials for the same condition