Building Responsible Environmental Awareness Through Inhaler Education (B.R.E.A.T.H.E.)

Project Title	Building Responsible Environmental Awareness Through Inhaler Education (B.R.E.A.T.H.E.)
Principal Investigator	Karen Dahri
Co-Applicants	Simroop Ladhar Ingrid Frank Jagdeep Gill
Faculty	Pharmaceutical Sciences
Funding Year	2023
Project Summary	In the management of respiratory conditions, inhaled medications serve as the cornerstone of therapy. However, their utilization significantly contributes to carbon emissions generated by the healthcare industry. Despite evidence of this issue, there is an absence of educational materials about this topic. This project aims to create a comprehensive OER that will be used to educate students in UBC’s Pharmacy program, as well as in other Faculties and UBC and beyond, on this topic. Remarkably, despite the evident significance of this issue, there is a notable absence of educational resources addressing these critical concerns for students. Based on our recent survey conducted within the current UBC E2P PharmD program, which involved participation from students across all year levels (Y1-4), we observed a clear consensus. Most respondents expressed an interest in learning about the intersection of pharmacy practice and climate change. Additionally, the majority firmly believe that pharmacists hold a vital role in addressing the environmental impact of inhalers on climate change. Consequently, our OER project emerges as a response to this educational gap. We aim to create comprehensive resources that cater to students across various faculties, going beyond what current pharmacy students are taught. The goal of this project is to create engaging and informative open educational resources such as video animations and visually appealing infographics. These materials will shed light on the environmental ramifications associated with inhaler use and the consequences of their emissions. While our primary focus remains on the pharmacy field and the emissions linked to inhaler usage, we recognize that even basic background information on this topic is currently unavailable. Our project extends beyond raising awareness as we will delve into practical discussions about the role of healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, in addressing this critical issue. Further we will explore how these professionals can intervene effectively, promoting sustainability within healthcare.
Project Poster	Building Responsible Environmental Awareness Through Inhaler Education (B.R.E.A.T.H.E.)
Link to OER	https://wiki.ubc.ca/The_Impact_of_Inhalers_on_the_Environment_and_Climate_Change
Grant type	OER Rapid Innovation
Funded Amount	$2,000