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Effectiveness of Various Methods of Teaching Proper Inhaler Technique
Samantha Axtell1, Seena Haines1, Jamie Fairclough1
11 Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL, USA.
Objective:
To compare the effectiveness of 4 different instructional interventions in training proper inhaler technique.
Design:
Randomized, noncrossover trial.
Setting:
Health fair and indigent clinic.
Participants:
Inhaler-naive adult volunteers who spoke and read English.
Interventions:
Subjects were assigned to complete the following: (1) read a metered dose inhaler (MDI) package insert pamphlet, (2) watch a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) video demonstrating MDI technique, (3) watch a YouTube video demonstrating MDI technique, or (4) receive direct instruction of MDI technique from a pharmacist.
Primary Outcome:
Inhaler use competency (completion of all 7 prespecified critical steps).
Results:
Of the 72 subjects, 21 (29.2%) demonstrated competent inhaler technique. A statistically significant difference between pharmacist direct instruction and the remaining interventions, both combined ( P < .0001) and individually ( P ≤ .03), was evident. No statistically significant difference was detected among the remaining 3 intervention groups. Critical steps most frequently omitted or improperly performed were exhaling before inhalation and holding of breath after inhalation.
Conclusion:
A 2-minute pharmacist counseling session is more effective than other interventions in successfully educating patients on proper inhaler technique. Pharmacists can play a pivotal role in reducing the implications of improper inhaler use.
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