[Did the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Primary Care center Anton de Borja correctly utilize inhalers?]

Abstract

Objective: To determine the percentage of patients with Pulmonary Obstructive Chronic Disease who doing of incorrect form the inhaler technique.

Method: Descriptive transversal study made in the Primary Care Center "Antón de Borja" of Rubi (in Barcelona) during the period between May and December 2013, where it was studied a representative sample of 200 patients. To assess the inhaler technique was performed a personal interview with the patient in which it was requested him to carry out a demonstration of how he was using his inhaler regularly evaluating his inhaler technique by means of the regulations established by Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery.

Results: 43% of the patients carry out inhaler technique incorrectly. The percentage of inadequate use of inhalers of dry powder was 26%, of the pressurized cartridge 38% and the inhaler chamber 10%. 82% of patients ≥ 65 years who have prescribed a pressurized inhaler cartridge do not perform accompanied by an inhaler chamber.

Conclusions: A high percentage of patients do not correctly carry out inhaler technique, pointing the rare use made of the inhaler chamber despite its proven efficacy and the high number of patients with pressurized inhaler cartridge. These results reflect the need for the implementation of an educational program in our Primary Care Center to teach patients to use inhaler devices.

Keywords: Administración por inhalación; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Educación del paciente; Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica; Inhalation administration; Nebulizadores y vaporizadores; Nebulizers and vaporizers; Patient education.