INHALER TECHNIQUE IN A PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT: IMPACT OF AN
EDUCATION INTERVENTION AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Abstract
Background: Inhaler technique (IT) knowledge among healthcare
providers is poor. The aim was to improve PED healthcare providers’ IT
technique by carrying out an education intervention, and sustain it for
6 months. Methods: open-label, quasi-experimental, prospective
and unicentric study. Healthcare professionals working at the Pediatric
Emergency Department (PED) were enrolled. The study was developed in
three phases: baseline evaluation and education intervention (P1) and
reevaluation 1 month (P2) and 6 months (P3) after the education
intervention. Participants fulfilled an eight-question theoretical test.
Practical skills were evaluated by demonstrating IT in all three phases.
The education intervention consisted in a verbal explanation of IT
followed by a demonstration of IT with metered-dose inhaler using a
mannequin. Results: 84 healthcare providers (medical residents,
nurses and nursing assistants) were involved. In the theoretical
questionnaire, the mean score at baseline was 4.4/8 (SD 1.7) improving
to 6.3/8 (SD 1.2) in P2 and 6.47/8 (SD 1.1) in P3. In the IT evaluation
for children <7 years old, the score improved from 5.7/7
(SD1.3) to 6.5/7 in P2 and 6.7/7 in P3 (p<0.001). For children
>7 years old, the mean score of IT at baseline was 3.1/10
(SD 4), which improved to 7.4/10 (SD3) and 8.2/10 in P2 and P3
respectively (p<0.001). Only laboral category influenced
results at baseline. Conclusion: Healthcare providers’
theoretical knowledge and practical skills on IT are low. The education
intervention performed is a useful strategy to ameliorate IT among
healthcare providers.