A study published online ahead of print in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society (AnnalsATS) finds that a “teach-to-goal” inhaler education strategy reduced rescue inhaler misuse to 11% compared to 60% for a “brief instruction” approach immediately after education. Clinical outcomes were significant better for the teach-to-goal group, especially among patients with low health literacy. The study also found that correct inhaler use declined over time for both groups, with 48% misuse for the teach-to-goal group and 76% misuse in the brief instruction group after 90 days.
The study involved 120 asthma and COPD patients who had a prescription for an MDI or a Diskus DPI and received either teach-to-goal or brief instruction at two Chicago, IL hospitals. Researchers followed the patients for 90 days after discharge. Misuse of the inhaler was defined as incorrect performance of 3 or more out of 12 steps.
Lead author Valerie Press of the University of Chicago said, “Our study shows that there may be improved clinical outcomes to providing teach-to-goal inhaler education in the hospital, especially for patients with lower health literacy levels but it also shows clearly that ongoing instruction in inhaler technique is required after discharge for long-lasting skills retention and improved health outcomes.”
Read the abstract.
Read the AnnalsATS press release.
