One additional educational session in inhaler use to patients with COPD in primary health care - A controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether one additional educational session about inhaler use, delivered to patients with COPD in primary healthcare, could affect the patients' skills in inhaler use. Specifically, to study the effects on errors related to handling the device, to inhalation technique, and to both.

Methods: This nonrandomized controlled clinical trial included 64 patients who used devices and made errors. COPD nurses assessed inhaler use using a checklist and educated patients. Intervention group received one additional educational session after two weeks.

Results: At baseline, patients in the IG had more devices (n = 2,1) compared to patients in the CG (n = 1,6) (p = 0.003). No other statistically significant differences were seen at baseline. At follow-up, intervention group showed a lower proportion of patients who made errors related to handling the device (p = 0.006). No differences were seen in the other categories.

Conclusion: One additional educational session in inhaler use for patients with COPD was effective in reducing the proportion of patients making errors related to handling of their devices.

Practice implications: Categorization of errors might help healthcare professionals to assess the suitability of patients' devices, tailor patient education, and thus improve patient health.

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Device; Inhalation technique; Inhaler use; Patient education.