In the realm of healthcare, patient hospitalisation can often be avoided through timely intervention and appropriate medication management. One powerful strategy to achieve this is patient stratification—classifying patients into different groups based on their vulnerability to hospitalisation. Factors influencing this vulnerability can include patient behavior and the type of medication they are using, such as their inhaler.

Just as patients can be stratified, physicians, too, can be categorised based on their approach to prescribing medication. For instance, some physicians might be innovators, keen to adopt new approaches, while others may rely on more traditional methods. Understanding these categories can help in aligning the right patients with the most effective treatments, ie personalised care.

Why the Right Prescription Matters

Consider patients with respiratory conditions who rely on inhalers. Some inhalers require two to three doses per day, while others are designed for a single daily dose. From a convenience standpoint, patients often prefer once a day inhalers. Market trends reflect this, with once a day inhalers being more widely adopted compared to those requiring multiple doses. However, prescribing the wrong type of inhaler or an ineffective medication can lead to poor disease management and increased hospitalisation rates [1].

One of the challenges in respiratory care is that hospital admissions often happen when patients experience extreme difficulty breathing, comparable to inhaling through a straw. This deterioration, however, does not happen suddenly; it typically develops over several days.

By tracking patients’ lung function closely, healthcare providers can identify early signs of worsening conditions. This window of opportunity allows for intervention before the situation becomes critical. Early identification not only prevents hospital admissions but also ensures patients receive the right pharmaceutical intervention at the right time.