Nurses' performance of inhalation technique with metered-dose inhaler plus spacer device
TH Self,
TM Kelso,
KL Arheart,
JH Morgan,
and
G Umberto Meduri
OBJECTIVE: To determine if nurses could correctly use a metered-dose inhaler plus spacer (MDI-spacer) device after a brief description and demonstration of proper use by a clinical pharmacist. DESIGN: Pretest, educational intervention, posttest. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three nurses. INTERVENTIONS: Nurses were asked to use the MDI-spacer (Aerochamber) and were scored using a nine-point checklist (pretest). Educational intervention by the clinical pharmacist consisted of a five-minute discussion and correct demonstration of the device. Nurses were then asked to use the device again (posttest). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre- and posttest scores. RESULTS: Total scores were improved after the educational intervention (66 percent pretest vs. 88 percent posttest, p = 0.0001). In an item analysis, four of the nine steps had improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: A brief discussion and demonstration of correct use of MDI-spacers is effective in improving nurses' skill in using the device.
