Breathing Easier: Optimizing Asthma and COPD Management Through Inhaler Technique and Adherence

Breathing Easier: Optimizing Asthma and COPD Management Through Inhaler Technique and Adherence

Fifty to 60 per cent of asthma and COPD patients don’t have a good handle on managing their condition, and you can have a massive impact on improving their well-being.

Pharmacy professionals are uniquely positioned to help patients improve symptom management. In this course, you’ll learn how to provide personalized care to eliminate treatment barriers, train patients on how to use inhalers effectively, and optimize care for patients of all ages and abilities. 

$0.00

Description

Description:

Asthma and COPD are widespread chronic diseases affecting millions of Canadians, yet these conditions are often poorly managed. Fifty to 60 per cent of asthma and COPD patients have poor control of the disease, despite advancements in medical knowledge and more effective medication options. Did you know that:

Asthma is the most common cause of hospitalization in children
COPD is the 4th most common cause of death in Canada
COPD is the nation’s 2nd leading cause of hospital admissions 
Between 2001-2013, there was an 82 per cent rise in diagnosed COPD cases 

While the impacts of these diseases are significant, many patients aren’t managing them as effectively as they could be. Barriers include low health literacy, limited access to medication, age-related challenges, and poor inhaler technique. In this course, you’ll learn all about these barriers and the solutions you can offer in your daily practice.  

One of the most critical interventions is training patients on proper inhaler techniques and adherence, and pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are ideally positioned to provide this education.

This course will walk you through the common mistakes patients make with inhaler technique (and how to correct them), discuss a personalized approach to selecting the best inhaler device, and provide real-world case studies to apply your new knowledge. You’ll walk away with detailed knowledge of how to optimize and improve treatment adherence for each individual patient.  

You’ll also gain valuable counselling tips, insights for treating children with asthma and role-based workflows for technicians and pharmacists.  

Sponsor:

This program is developed by the Ontario Pharmacists Association and supported through an education grant from Trudell Healthcare Solutions.

Course at a Glance:

  • 1 hour to complete
  • 1 CEUs
  • Course expiry date: May 22, 2026
  • Online
  • Accreditation: 8003-2025-3995-I-Z
  • Completion requirement: Complete the online modules, multiple-choice exam (with a score of 70 per cent or higher) and the program evaluation before the expiry date to receive a letter of completion.

Intended Audience:

This course is intended for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. This course is also open to healthcare providers who are interested in and would benefit from the content of this program. 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, you should be able to: 

  • Understand treatment strategies for managing asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 
  • Identify and address barriers that affect a patient’s adherence, inhaler technique, and medication delivery​ 
  • Discuss effective patient counselling strategies that can be applied to practice​ 
  • Describe the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in respiratory care​ 

Course Outline:

  • Learning Module (50 minutes)
  • Multiple Choice Exam (10 minutes)
  • Program Evaluation

Development Team:

127

Fabio De Rango, BScPhm, RPh, CDE​

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Brenda Chang, RPh, BScPhm, PharmD, ACPR

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Justin Lin, BScPhm, PharmD, RPh

Cancellation Policy

Please refer to OPA’s Terms and Conditions of Purchase for cancellation policies. 

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