Roles of pharmacy agents in asthma care in Africa: Survey of community pharmacists in Libreville

Background: The pharmacy agents is sought regularly by asthmatic patients. Objective: To assess delivery asthma drugs in community pharmacies in Libreville, Gabon. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional survey by self-administered questionnaire, interesting to the agents of pharmacies. It was conducted to assess delivery of asthma drug in community pharmacies in Libreville, Gabon. Results: The acceptance rate for pharmacies was 75.0%. All the participants in the study report having been visited by an asthma patient in the pharmacy, either during acute episodes (75.7%) or between acute episodes (95.1%). It was found that a considerable number of patients come to community pharmacies for care without prior medical prescription (26.6%). In case of acute episode, care is provided by the agents of pharmacies (91.7%). At the pharmacy, asthma management is provided by pharmacists in 82.4% of acute episode. The technical of handling metered dose aerosols, and the inhalation chamber are poorly understood by dispensing agents. In the background treatment, oral corticosteroids (8.2%) and β 2-CDA (7.5%) are still used. Counseling was also given to patients on the doctor’s consultation (52.1%), the eviction of any contact with a known allergen (50.2%), the smoking elimination (45.0%). Conclusion: It is more than necessary to integrate in health policies the ongoing training and evaluation of community workers.