Education and Advice on Medication Applies: Inhaler Technique Presentation

Asthma

• You may have visited a hospital recently because of asthma.
• If you haven’t, you are lucky. If you have, an inhaler is not exactly new to you, isn’t?
• Unless you use that device properly, chances are that you will need emergency treatment soon (CREVELING, SLUTSKY & ANTIS 2003).
• We will engage you on how education can improve inhaler technique and clinical outcomes.

Education and Inhaler Technique

• Trials from experts show that if patients are given proper instructions by professional, their inhaler techniques improve (WITTMAN 2011).
• Out of 100 people, 25 have never been instructed verbally on proper techniques (PERRY, POTTER & OSTENDORF 2013).
• The other 75 were given instructions but in a rushed manner (HESSON 2012).
• Out of 100 professionals, only 11 follow up their patients after training (WITTMAN 2011).

Can Community pharmacists help in this?

• Yes, they can (KOBAK 2002), but how?
• If you are professional, make sure you know the proper technique before you teach others.
• 30-85 professionals do not know how to use it properly (GARG & ALIÓ 2011). Update your skills regularly.
• Second, it is your duty to ensure that an inhaler is appropriate to a particular patient. Why do you think this is necessary?
• Third, ask the patient to demonstrate proper techniques as you watch them.
• Fourth, do not just give leaflets, explain verbally. Few people enjoy reading.
• Fifth, follow you explanation with a demonstration. People remember more what you do, not what you say.
• Sixth, as crazy as it may sound, repeat instructions. Boring? But it helps (POLLAK & GUPTON 2002).
• In all these process, maintain a good rapport with the patient (CONTE 2009).

Simple Steps

Now you have the inhaler, you know what to do, do it here (MORRISON 2008):

1. Inhalers have a cap, remove it.
2. Ensure you shake the inhaler, not violently though! Why do you have to shake it?
3. Hold the mouthpiece with a finger.
4. Move it to you close to your mouth and exhale all the air in your lungs.
5. Release the mouthpiece on you mouth and inhale, deeply (HESSON 2012).
6. Make sure your breath is deep enough to suck in the dose.
7. Hold your breath.
8. Now breath out and repeat the process.
9. Very Important. ASK THE PATIENT TO REPEAT THAT! (SILBERMAN 2006).

References

CONTE, C 2009, Advanced techniques for counseling and psychotherapy, Springer Pub. Co, New York.

CREVELING, C. M., SLUTSKY, J & ANTIS, D 2003 Design for Six Sigma in technology and product development, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

GARG, A., & ALIÓ, J. L 2011, Strabismus Surgery, Jaypee Brothers Medical Pub, New Delhi.

HESSON, J. L 2012 Weight training for life, Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, Belmont, California,.

KOBAK, J. B 2002, How to Start a Magazine And Publish It Profitably, M. Evans & Company, Lanham.

MORRISON, J. R 2008, The first interview, Guilford Press, New York.

PERRY, A. G., POTTER, P. A & OSTENDORF, W 2013, Clinical nursing skills & techniques, Guliford Press, New York.

POLLAK, A. N., & GUPTON, C. L 2002, Emergency care and transportation of the sick and injured, Jones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MA.

SILBERMAN, M. L 2006,Active training a handbook of techniques, designs, case examples, and tips, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA.

WITTMAN, K 2011, Functional movement: practical therapeutic exercise for peripheral joint range of motion, S.l., Orthoverse.