RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Improving awareness of correct inhaler techniques through an inhaler reference guide
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP PA2885
DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA2885
VO 48
IS suppl 60
A1 Thisarana Wijayaratne
A1 Nabil Jarad
YR 2016
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA2885.abstract
AB Background: The introduction of many novel inhalers for airway diseases in the past 5 years has created confusion among doctors and patients. Evidence suggests that healthcare professionals (HCPs) lack competency to demonstrate correct inhaler techniques to patients.Aim: We designed a periodically updating inhaler reference guide which includes all inhalers approved in the UK. This guide provides information on all inhalers in a single location. The guide is available as a paperback textbook and as an interactive PDF document. Evaluation of this guide is undertaken.Methods: Two surveys were conducted in a teaching hospital in the Southwest of England. The first survey was done before seeing the guide and the second survey afterwards. The first was among 71 HCPs (34 doctors, 8 GPs, 17 nurses and 12 others) to assess their awareness of correct inhaler techniques and their level of competence in using different types (12 mechanisms) of inhalers correctly. The second survey involved 54 HCPs & 17 patients to assess the effectiveness and practicality of the guide.Results: Initial survey showed that less than 41% of doctors and 63% of nurses were competent to instruct how to use a metered dose inhaler and an accuhaler. Competency was least in respimat (doctors-5%, nurses-13%). After visualising the guide, 92% (n=65) of the participants felt competent in using and teaching inhalers (P<0.02). More than 85% of HCPs and patients thought that this guide was clear, easy to use and comprehensive on describing inhalers and teaching techniques.Conclusions: This guide was shown to be effective; hence it is now being used in three UK hospitals. We plan to design a smart phone application of this guide.