Objective: The feedback from multiple international centers continue over the course of several years, due to inhaler device handling errors in obstructive lung disease patients. In this study, the effectiveness of an easy-to-apply and continuous inhaler device education method that maybe implemented within a hospital setting and continued at home was evaluated.
Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients with COPD who used an inhaler device with >2/10 critical errors were included in the study. They were then trained on how to use their inhaler devices and these 60 patients were then divided into two equal groups. Group 1 consisted of control patients who did not receive additional education. Group 2 patients had the inhaler administration steps recorded as voice commands on their mobile phones. In addition a reminder of medication administration time was added. All patients were followed for six months to evaluate the outcome of training.
Results: Among patients, 86.7% were unaware of misuse of their device. The success of Group 1 patients were 56.7% after the first education in the clinic. After six months, no patient was successful. However within Group 2 success rate was 46.7% at the end of first education and at the sixth month control.
Conclusion: The patients do not realize that they are mishandling their inhaler devices. They also forget the steps of inhaler treatment after a period. The continuity of education supplied by phone application is supported in this study. Such applications may be adapted to clinical settings to increase the treatment success.