In the present study, we investigated whether counseling at an outpatient asthma clinic improved asthma symptoms, adherence and patient satisfaction: The asthma control test (ACT) and asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) were used to assess subjective symptoms, 10-item version of the drug attitude inventory (DAI-10) was used to determine medication adherence, and 8-item Japanese version of the client satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ-8J) was used to ascertain patient satisfaction. All scores of inhalation technique, PEF (peak expiratory ‰ow) value/predicted PEF value (％), ACT, ACQ and DAI-10 in 26 patients with asthma increased after counseling at the outpatient asthma clinic compared to those before counseling. The average CSQ-8J score of 28 points (highest possible score: 32 points) indicated that the patients were satisˆed with services provided by this clinic. These results indicate that counseling provided by pharmacists at the outpatient clinic is a valuable way improving subjective symptoms, lung function and medication adherence. These results also indicate that counseling at the asthma clinic by pharmacists improves the quality of life of patients with asthma.

Over recent years, use of self-medication by patients to help prevent and treat their own medical conditions has become increasingly widespread. However, despite provision of warnings and the taking of precautions, health hazards due to medication have occurred and continue to occur. In order to ward off such incidents, it is necessary for both children and adults to be educated about appropriate drug use. And, it is desirable that pharmacy students participate in this medicinal education as a means of a‹rming what they have learned and improving their communication skills at an early stage in their professional development. In 2008, we held medicinal education classes for pupils and parents at three elementary schools in Aichi Prefecture with the aim of promoting appropriate drug use. Each class comprised of two parts: an introductory lecture in quiz form, lasting about 30 minutes, and a 30-minute participatory group experiment. Subsequently, the activities carried out in both parts were evaluated across 6 items and 3 items respectively, and scored from Satisˆed to Unsatisˆed (4-step scale) by the pupils and their parents. We also conducted a questionnaire survey on this activity to the pharmacy students. We achieved successful results, gaining high Satisˆed levels (better than 90％) in all items. This activity beneˆted both the children and the pharmacy students. It not only provided education for the general public regarding the appropriate drug use, but is also helping to foster the development in Japan of well-trained future pharmacists.