Project details
Guideline Climate-conscious prescription of inhalatives
Dr. Michael Dörks , Abteilung Ambulante Versorgung und Pharmakoepidemiologie, Uni Oldenburg;
Ständige Leitlinienkommission (SLK der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin (DEGAM);
Description
The healthcare sector is responsible for approximately 5% of CO2 emissions, and at the practice level, the prescription of medications causes the largest footprint. In addition to restrained prescribing practices, eliminating certain medications (e.g., individual anesthetic gases) or switching to more climate-neutral prescriptions is a simple way to reduce the healthcare footprint.
Due to the propellants used in metered dose inhalers (MDI), their impact to climate change (global warming potential) is much higher compared to powder inhalers (DPI). The switch to more climate-friendly powder inhalers is unproblematic for most of those affected. The S1 Guideline is intended to provide assistance in order to facilitate a change in prescribing behavior.
Together with other professional societies (pediatric, pulmonology, allergy, pharmacy) the upgrade to a S2k guideline will be finished in the end of 2023.