Pharmacist's knowledge, attitude, and practice toward proper inhaler technique.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Respiratory Medicine
• Patient Education

Background:

• Correct inhaler technique is crucial for effective respiratory disease management.
• Pharmacists play a vital role in educating patients on proper inhaler usage.
• Assessing pharmacists' knowledge and practices is essential for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of pharmacists regarding inhaler usage.
• To identify areas for improvement in pharmacist training for inhaler technique education.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 200 randomly selected pharmacists in Karbala and Najaf, Iraq.
• Data collected between October 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022.
• Assessment of participants' knowledge, practices, and attitudes towards inhaler use.

Main Results:

• Approximately one-third of pharmacists had adequate knowledge of inhaler use.
• Most pharmacists recognized the impact of proper inhaler technique on treatment efficacy.
• Only about a third of participants regularly checked and demonstrated inhaler techniques.

Conclusions:

• Iraqi pharmacists exhibit a fair level of knowledge and practice concerning inhaler techniques.
• Pharmacists possess a positive attitude towards educating patients on inhaler use.
• Targeted training programs are recommended to enhance pharmacists' skills and improve healthcare services.