@article {MehtaPA4224, author = {Bhavin Mehta and Saskia Edwards and Nicholas Hopkinson and Alanna Hare and Omar Usmani}, title = {Time is Essential for Competant Inhaler Technique Training}, volume = {54}, number = {suppl 63}, elocation-id = {PA4224}, year = {2019}, doi = {10.1183/13993003.congress-2019.PA4224}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {Background: Quality- assured inhaler technique (Inh-Tec) training is essential within respiratory care. Inh-Tec can influence efficacy of inhaled therapies, treatment adherence and patient outcomes. However, Inh-Tec in respiratory management is often poorly addressed.Aims: We (i) determined the time undertaken to teach Inh-Tec in a busy tertiary London clinic and (ii) surveyed clinician{\textquoteright}s and patient{\textquoteright}s attitude, confidence and competence regarding Inh-Tec.Methods: Eight clinicians were surveyed with a questionnaire. Eleven COPD patients were surveyed before and after Inh-Tec review during clinic by an experienced physiotherapist.Results: Most clinicians (75\%) cited lack of time as the main barrier to assess Inh-Tec Clinicians strongly agreed (62.5\%) Inh-Tec should be an essential part of any consultation. However only a minority of clinicians (12.5\%) checked Inh-Tec. Patient inhaler technique took an average of 23.5 (range 14 {\textendash} 30) minutes to assess. Patients (50\%) felt that they were not using their inhalers correctly. They (40\%) were not confident they were taking them correctly, despite 73\% having their Inh-Tec reviewed since they were first prescribed their inhalers. The majority (85\%) strongly agreed it was valuable having their Inh-Tec checked and half wanted it checked at every other clinic visit.Conclusion: Clinicians feel Inh-Tec is important but time is a barrier to this. The average time to assess Inh-Tec was 23.5 minutes. Importantly, the average waiting time to see a clinician was 57 minutes. Inh-Tec could be routinely assessed while patients wait to see the clinician.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, PA4224.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).}, issn = {0903-1936}, URL = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/54/suppl_63/PA4224}, eprint = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content}, journal = {European Respiratory Journal} }