Nurses' knowledge of inhaler technique in the inpatient hospital setting.
OBJECTIVE
High rates of inhaler misuse in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma contribute to hospital readmissions and increased healthcare cost. The purpose of this study was to examine inpatient staff nurses' self-perception of their knowledge of proper inhaler technique compared with demonstrated technique and frequency of providing patients with inhaler technique teaching during hospitalization and at discharge.


METHODS
A prospective, descriptive study.


METHODS
A 495-bed urban academic medical center in the Midwest United States.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 100 nurses working on inpatient medical units.


METHODS
Participants completed a 5-item, 4-point Likert-scale survey evaluating self-perception of inhaler technique knowledge, frequency of providing patient education, and responsibility for providing education. Participants demonstrated inhaler technique to the investigators using both a metered dose inhaler (MDI) and Diskus device inhaler, and performance was measured via a validated checklist.


RESULTS
Overall misuse rates were high for both MDI and Diskus devices. There was poor correlation between perceived ability and investigator-measured performance of inhaler technique. Frequency of education during hospitalization and at discharge was related to measured level of performance for the Diskus device but not for the MDI.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses are a key component of patient education in the hospital; however, nursing staff lack adequate knowledge of inhaler technique.


CONCLUSIONS
Identifying gaps in nursing knowledge regarding proper inhaler technique and patient education about proper inhaler technique is important to design interventions that may positively impact patient outcomes. Interventions could include one-on-one education, Web-based education, unit-based education, or hospital-wide competency-based education. All should include return demonstration of appropriate technique.
Author Affiliations: Graduates (Mss De Tratto and Gomez), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing; Assistant Professor (Dr Ryan), Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, and Director, Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Research, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System; Clinical Instructor (Ms Bracken), Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, and Research Manager, Population Health Sciences Program, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System; Research Assistant Professor (Dr Steffen), Department of Health Systems Science, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing; Director (Dr Corbridge), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, Chicago, Illinois.
Katie
K
De Tratto
Christy
C
Gomez
Catherine J
CJ
Ryan
Nina
N
Bracken
Alana
A
Steffen
Susan J
SJ
Corbridge
D057189:Checklist; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D019359:Knowledge; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital