To Study the Effectiveness of Inhalation Technique Training in Patients with COPD and Asthma.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are characterized by chronic airway inflammation. Lack of knowledge about the correct inhalation techniques leads to poor control of both diseases. This study aimed to study the effectiveness of inhalation technique training in patients with COPD and asthma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 132 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were trained with the correct technique of inhalation on day 0 and at the end of 1 and 6 months. Evaluation of technique training was done on these three occasions posttraining. The mean score of devices was obtained, and the mean inhalation technique score of various devices was compared.

RESULTS: Out of 132 patients, 65.1% (86/132) patients were using a dry powdered inhaler (DPIs), 26.5% (35/132) patients used metered dose inhalers (MDIs), and 8.4% (11/132) patients used MDI with spacer. The mean scores of patients using MDI at baseline were 5.68 ± 0.83, and after 1 month, 6.68 ± 0.58 (p < 0.000). The inhalation technique mean score of MDI improved after 6 months, 7.02 ± 0.56 as compared to baseline (p < 0.008) mean score of the patients using DPIs improved after 1 month, 5.53 ± 0.58 as compared to baseline 4.37 ± 5.53 (p < 0.000). There was no statistical improvement in the device mean score of DPIs after 6 months, 5.62 ± 0.55 when compared with 1 month, 5.53 ± 0.58 (p < 0.117). Patients who used pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDI) with spacers improved their inhalation score after 1 month by 6.90 ± 0.94 as compared to the baseline score of 6.90 ± 0.94 (p < 0.001). The mean score decreased marginally after 6 months, 7.818 ± 0.60, as compared to the score at the end of 1 month of 8.27 ± 0.64 (p < 0.053).

DISCUSSION: Patients showed improvement in the technique of inhalation after educational training, reinstructions, and a standard checklist.