Pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler Skills and Perceptions in Individuals With COPD

COPD is a significant public health issue that negatively impacts quality of life and is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Although pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) are widely used in the treatment of COPD, individuals with COPD often have errors in technique. Individuals' perceptions of the disease and their reactions can influence their health behaviors and medication adherence. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between pMDI use skill and COPD perception and reaction in individuals with COPD.

This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 184 subjects treated at the Pulmonary Diseases Clinic. The Participants Information Form, the pMDI Skill Assessment Checklist, and the COPD Perception and Reaction Scale (COPD PRS) were used to collect data. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between subjects' pMDI skill scores and their COPD PRS scores. The variables predicting COPD perception and reactions were identified using a multiple linear regression model. A P value < .05 was considered significant in all analyses.

Most subjects (79%) were male with a mean age of 64.8 ± 9.6 years. The mean pMDI skill score was 3.3 ± 1.4, and the mean COPD PRS was 77.2 ± 19.5. There was a moderate, meaningful negative correlation between pMDI skill score and COPD PRS score (r = -0.69, P < .001). pMDI skill score (β = -0.36, P < .001), age (β = 0.21, P = .005), COPD duration (β = 0.19, P = .004), and systemic disease (β = 0.17, P = .004) were significant predictors of COPD perception and reaction.

This study suggests that assessing pMDI use skills, disease perception, and reaction in individuals with COPD should become routine practice, enabling the planning of personalized educational interventions.