A study to assess the knowledge and practice of using metered dose inhalers in patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease attending opd in a selected tertiary care hospital

Background: The increasing prevalence of obstructive respiratory diseases is a matter of concern, as of 2010 three hundred million people were affected worldwide, and in 2009 Bronchial Asthma caused more than two Lakhs deaths globally (GINA 2009). Proper practice and training of the correct steps of using MDI can minimize the drawbacks and therefore nurses need to observe and analyze the existing knowledge and practice on the use of MDI use. Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to assess the patient knowledge regarding use of MDI, to observe the practice, correlate knowledge and practice and associate the knowledge and practice with selected socio demographic variables. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was undertaken with two hundred and three randomly selected participants with Bronchial Asthma and COPD .The knowledge regarding the MDI use was assessed by using a semi structured interview questionnaire and practice was observed using an observation checklist. Result: Majority were suffering from Bronchial asthma (87%, 177) and more than half had duration of disease of ≤ 10 years. The Mean knowledge score of the sample was 33.4 which fall into good category and mean practice score was 8.1. Socio demographic variables like age, gender, education, duration of using MDI had no significant association with both knowledge and practice of using MDI except the place of residence (p<0.05) and duration of disease suffering (p < 0.005). Conclusion: Incorrect inhalation practice is common among Bronchial Asthma and COPD patients in a pulmonary outpatient clinic. The results of present study have shown that the correct use of MDI was found to be poor for most participants even though they had good knowledge. All participants had made at least one essential mistake in their inhalation practice and the study emphasizes on the importance of enhancing the patient’s practice of correct steps of using MDI by providing regular reinforcement and training through an Asthma Action Plan or Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease Action Plan in the respiratory OPD using multimedia touch screen computer (MTS).