RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Inhaler proficiency following the introduction of a new inhaler management policy for hospitalised patients
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P1298
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Deirdre Long
A1 Anne Marie Lyons
A1 Tara Byrne
A1 Imran Sulaiman
A1 Richard Costello
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1298.abstract
AB Inhaled medications are crucial treatments in many respiratory conditions. However inhaler adherence is poorly studied, particularly in the hospitalised patient. Historically inhalers are left with inpatients and charted in the Drug Kardex to be administered as prescribed. This audit follows the implementation of a new Inhaler Management Policy for hospitalised patients. It was hypothesized that following the implementation of the policy poor inhaler technique would be identified and corrected prior to dischargeAll patients on inhalers admitted from the Emergency Department were included in the audit over a four month period. Verbal consent was obtained. 126 patients were observed, 100(n=100) female=58 and male=42 completed, 26 uncompleted=discharge early or infection control. Mean age=68(-49/+19). Diagnosis COPD (55%), asthma(24%) and other(21%). A ten point Inhaler Proficiency Score (IPS) was used to assess inhaler technique.On admission, 54 patients had good inhaler technique, IPS ≥9; 19 were too ill to be assessed properly. At discharge, 21% of the patients with a low initial IPS improved to≥9 while 25% had no improvement (all these patients had an initial IPS <5 at admission). Overall, 20% required intervention, 16 had further inhaler education and 4 were deemed not suited for inhalers.Poor inhaler technique on admission improved with appropriate intervention as part of the new Inhaler Management Policy. A group of patients have been highlighted that are unable to use inhalers following instructions and this needs further audit.