The Help for Hay Fever community pharmacy-based pilot randomised controlled trial for intermittent allergic rhinitis

NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2020 Jun 1;30(1):23. doi: 10.1038/s41533-020-0180-4.

Abstract

Management of intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) is suboptimal in the UK. An Australian community pharmacy-based intervention has been shown to help patients better self-manage their IAR. We conducted a pilot cluster RCT in 12 Scottish community pharmacies to assess transferability of the Australian intervention. Trained staff in intervention pharmacies delivered the intervention to eligible customers (n = 60). Non-intervention pharmacy participants (n = 65) received usual care. Outcome measures included effect size of change in the mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (miniRQLQ) between baseline, 1-week and 6-week follow-up. Trial procedures were well received by pharmacy staff, and customer satisfaction with the intervention was high. The standardised effect size for miniRQLQ total score was -0.46 (95% CI, -1.05, 0.13) for all participants and -0.14 (95% CI,-0.86, 0.57) in the complete case analysis, suggesting a small overall treatment effect in the intervention group. A full-scale RCT is warranted to fully evaluate the effectiveness of this service.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Community Pharmacy Services / economics
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Pharmacists*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Quality of Life
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / economics
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / therapy*
  • Self-Management / economics
  • Self-Management / education
  • Self-Management / methods*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires