Management of Childhood Asthma and Role of Pharmacist

This study aimed to review model and activities of asthma management including role of pharmacist in asthma control. A systematic review was done during Jul-Aug 2010 from three major databases including Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, and Journals Ovid. Inclusion criteria included publication in English, enrollment of asthma children aged 0-18 years, with book chapters were not included. Information in each article was extracted regarding research design, study population, type of intervention, and setting. Seventeen articles were included in this study. Asthma management can be categorized into clinical-oriented model, servicemanagement model, patient-centered model, and mixed model. Clinical-oriented model includes activities aimed to manage asthma attack and prevent persistent asthma, as follow, regular check-ups and evaluation for asthma severity, treatment of acute attacks and chronic asthma, and avoiding triggering factors. Service-management model aimed to educate patient or parents on how to manage acute attack, chronic asthma, and use of inhaler or spacer. The educational strategies used include information from booklet, computer-based simulation, school-based education program, and counseling. Patient-centered model includes perceptions of disease control, health educational model, and shared-decision making model. Mixed model includes knowledge translation model, self -management behaviors model, and asthma action based written plans (SWP). An integration of pharmacist into health care team and patient treatment are an important role in primary care, disease management, and health promotion programs, thus, help promoting pharmacist role. Keyword: Asthma management; Asthma care; Children.