Optimizing the effectiveness of inhalation therapy- comprehensive knowledge enhancement program

Abstract

Introduction: Inhalation therapy is the gold standard management of respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. There are more newly released inhalers and inhaler devices. The effectiveness of inhalation therapy is influenced by patients’ level of knowledge. Among the health care professionals, nurses play a major role in patient education. To optimize the effectiveness of the inhalation therapy, a comprehensive knowledge enhancement program is initiated to the nurses and patients.

Objectives:

1. To optimize the effectiveness of inhalation therapy.

2. To enhance the nurses’ and patients’ knowledge about updated inhalation therapy.

Methods:

1. A respiratory in-service training course was held for nurses in the department of Medical and Geriatrics. The update on the guideline of inhalation therapy, types of inhalers and inhaler devices were introduced. The participants’ knowledge enhancement was examined by conducting the one group pretest and posttest quasi-experimental study.

2. An educational board targeted on patients to consolidate their knowledge, thereby improving adherence to therapy. The contents focused on different types of inhalers and the use of inhaler devices.

Results: Total 22 participants joined the training course and the data were analyzed by performing paired samples T-test. The mean score of the pretest was 1.68±1.13 (Standard Deviation, SD), while that of the posttest was 3.82±1.05 (SD). The p value of the paired sample t-test was 0.015 which showed significant difference.

Conclusions: With knowledge enhancement, nurses can effectively educate the patients to adhere to the therapy. Therefore, this program is worth to conduct and will be ongoing.