Effectiveness of educating proper inhaler technique in chronic obstructive airway disease patients visiting pulmonology outpatient department

Objective: Inhaler usage plays a key role in the treatment of chronic obstructive airway diseases. Improper usage technique is the most common but correctable aspect of the inhaler therapy, which leads to poor disease control, additional medications, morbidity, repeated exacerbations, and admissions. The usage of proper inhaler technique ensures good treatment outcome. Methods: This was a prospective study using a sample size of 66 adult patients of varying age group attending the Pulmonology Outpatient Department (OPD) in Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute – Porur, Chennai Data were collected using questionnaire Assessing and scoring the patient's inhaler technique on 1st visit to pulmonology OPD followed by teaching them proper inhaler technique using simple 4-step method Reviewing the same patient after 1 month, assessing and scoring to grade the outcome as good (4 scores), adequate (3 scores), and inadequate (2 or less). Results: The number of patients with inhaler technique adequacy (scores of 3 and 4) was 44% in the study's initial phase. The study participants were trained on each stage of the inhaler technique till a level of accuracy is reached and the patient is made aware about the proper technique. The participants during the review process exhibited improved levels of technique adequacy. Overall inhaler technique adequacy (score of 3 and 4) of the study participants reached 91% in the review stage (after 1 month). Part of patient care to educate the patients regarding proper inhaler technique has been found to be highly effective. Conclusion: Proper education on correct method of inhaler technique may not only improve the symptoms of the disease but also helps in dose reduction in long-term. Health professionals should encourage and instruct on correct inhalation technique and regularly re-evaluate the patient's inhalation technique during every OPD visit. Thus, proper counseling for the inhaler use in patients must be encouraged as it is closely related in quality of life of patient.