Inhalation Technique among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Visiting a Teaching Hospital, Chitwan
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Abstract
Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of illness and death worldwide, and inhalers are often used to manage its symptoms. However, patients’ ability to use inhalers correctly is crucial for the effectiveness of treatment. Incorrect technique can lead to poor management of the disease and limit the effectiveness of the medication. This study aimed to assess the inhalation technique of patients with COPD who visited a teaching hospital in Chitwan.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with COPD who had been using a dry powder inhaler through a rotahaler device for at least 1 month and were attending the Medicine and Respiratory OPD of the teaching hospital in Chitwan. A convenience sampling technique was used to select a total of 103 participants. An observational checklist was used to assess inhalation technique, and a structured interview schedule was used to collect socio-demographic information. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the obtained data in SPSS version 20 for Windows.
Findings: The mean age of the 103 respondents was 70.1 ± 9.56 years, and 62.1% of them were female. While 78.6% had observed a demonstration of the inhalation technique, only 5.8% of the respondents performed the inhalation technique correctly, and 94.2% performed it incorrectly. Only 22.3% of the participants were able to perform at least one critical step of the inhalation technique. The most commonly observed errors included placing the mouthpiece between the lips and teeth (20.4%), breathing out through the mouth (21.4%), and inhaling the powder forcefully and deeply (26.2%).
Conclusion: Patients with COPD attending the teaching hospital in Chitwan exhibited incorrect inhalation technique, which can affect the effectiveness of medication and disease management. Healthcare providers should emphasize critical steps and common mistakes to ensure that patients receive maximum benefit from their medication.
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