Metered-dose inhaler technique among healthcare providers practising in Oman
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2001, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the correctness of metered-dose inhaler (MDI) technique in a sample of healthcare providers practising in Oman, considering that poor inhaler technique is a common problem both in asthma patients and healthcare providers, which contributes to poor asthma control. Method: A total of 150 healthcare providers (107 physicians, 33 nurses and 10 pharmacists) who were participants in symposia on asthma management conducted in five regions of Oman, volunteered for the study. After the participants answered a questionnaire aimed at identifying their involvement in MDI prescribing and counselling, a trained observer assessed their MDI technique using a checklist of nine steps. Results: Of the 150 participants, 148 (99%) were involved in teaching inhaler techniques to patients, and 103 of 107 physicians (96%) had prescribed inhaled medications. However only 22 participants (15%) performed all steps correctly. Physicians performed significantly better than non-physicians (20% vs. 2%, p <0.05) Among the physicians, internists performed better (26%) than general practitioners (5%) and accident and emergency doctors (9%). Conclusion: The majority of healthcare providers responsible for instructing patients on the correct MDI technique were unable to perform this technique correctly indicating the need for regular formal training programmes on inhaler techniques.
Authors and Affiliations
Sawsan A. Baddar| Department of Pharmacy, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, P.O. Box: 38, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Omar A. Al-Rawas| Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box: 35, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Kassim A. Al-Riyami| Department of Pharmacy, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, P.O. Box: 38, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Elizabeth A. Worthing| Department of Pharmacy, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, P.O. Box: 38, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Yolande I. Hanssens| Department of Pharmacy, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, P.O. Box: 38, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Aqeela M. Taqi| Department of Pharmacy, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, P.O. Box: 38, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Bazdawi M. S. Al-Riyami| Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box: 35, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
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