Impact of Clinical Pharmacist-Led Parent Education on Asthma Control in Children: A Prospective Interventional Study in Tripoli, Libya

Abstract

Background: Childhood asthma is a common chronic illness often worsened by poor management and frequent exacerbations. Parent education is essential to improve control and reduce emergency visits. Objective: To assess the impact of a clinical pharmacist-led parent education program on asthma outcomes in children. Methods: A prospective interventional study included 36 children aged 3-17 years with asthma. Parents in the intervention group received structured education on trigger avoidance, inhaler/spacer use, and monitoring. Follow-up was conducted over six months. Primary outcomes were emergency visits, compliance, and symptom control. Results: Children in the intervention group had significantly fewer emergency department visits compared with controls (P = 0.01). Compliance with pharmacist instructions correlated with better asthma control (P = 0.02). Dust, pollen, smoke, exercise, and climate changes were the main triggers, while allergic rhinitis and gastroesophageal reflux contributed to poor control when unmanaged. Conclusion: Clinical pharmacist-led education improves parental knowledge, enhances asthma control, and reduces acute exacerbations in children. Incorporating pharmacists into multidisciplinary pediatric asthma care offers substantial benefits.