TABLE 3.

Practical considerations and steps to aid patients on intravenous, subcutaneous, inhaled or oral therapies

Mode of administration	Practical considerations and steps
Intravenous	Provide practice equipment/pumps prior to linking infusion
	Provide an introduction/education on the i.v. delivery system, the need for a central venous catheter and the up-titration procedure
	Patient participation in infusion preparation
	Patient education for managing medication at home and care of i.v. line and sterility
	Provide patients with a well-defined care plan on hospital discharge, including management of side-effects
	Provide advice on what to do in case of pump malfunction or a compromised i.v. line
	Provide advice on practical matters on living with an i.v. line (e.g. showering)
	Inform local emergency services about the patient's medication in case the patient needs to be seen urgently
	Use of thermostable epoprostenol [48]
Subcutaneous	Dry siting of the infusion cannula [49]
	Flexibility about when the site is changed [49]
	Analgesics [39]
	Patient education on what to do in case of infusion system malfunction, and the need to carry spare equipment and drug
Inhaled	Educate patients on how to use and look after the devices
	Written materials including brochures and tools to aid compliance
	Medication reminders through alarms or apps on smartphones
	InSight training devices to reinforce effective breathing patterns and check adherence [50]
	Ensure that the patient understands the basic function of the medication, the importance of regular dosing and what to do if a dose is late or missed
Oral	Support for management of their side-effects
	Support and tools to aid compliance
	Medication reminders through alarms or apps on smartphones
	Ensure that the patient understands the basic function of the medication, the importance of regular dosing and what to do if a dose is late or missed
All routes	Education on the up-titration process
	Patient associations/support groups
	Written materials, DVDs and online information