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Knowledge and practice of dry powder inhalation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a regional hospital, Nepal
Authors Baral MA
Received 3 April 2018
Accepted for publication 14 June 2018
Published 24 December 2018 Volume 2019:12 Pages 31—37
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S165659
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single-blind
Peer reviewers approved by Dr Colin Mak
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Dr Scott Fraser
Video abstract presented by Baral.
Views: 63
Mira Adhikari Baral
Department of Nursing, Pokhara Campus, Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine, Pokhara, Nepal
Purpose: Dry powder inhalation is a cornerstone of treatment in patients with COPD. This study was undertaken to study the knowledge and practice of dry powder inhalation among such patients.
Patients and methods: The current study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. The study was conducted among 204 COPD patients (outpatients and inpatients) aged ≥20 years who had been using rotahaler, a dry powder inhaler device, and a purposive sampling technique was used. Data were collected from February 28, 2016, to March 26, 2016. A questionnaire was administered by the interviewer to assess the knowledge about dry powder inhaler (DPI) and inhalation while a Dutch Asthma Foundation observation checklist for rotahaler was used to evaluate the practice of dry powder inhalation. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (chi-square test).
Results: Findings from the study showed that a low proportion of the respondents had accurate knowledge and correctly practiced inhalation technique (3.9%). However, majority of the respondents (77.5%) performed the critical steps correctly. The correct practice of dry powder inhalation was associated with younger age (p=0.008), urban residence (p=0.024), and literacy (p=0.012). The practice was comparatively more accurate among those who received practical classes/demonstration on the inhalation technique from health care providers (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Based on the study findings, it was concluded that COPD patients attending Western Regional Hospital possessed satisfactory knowledge but poor technique of dry powder inhalation. The most important modifiable factor for incorrect practice was a lack of demonstration on inhalation technique by the health care provider. Therefore, it is necessary for health care providers to supplement verbal instruction on dry powder inhalation with demonstration and re-demonstration from the patients to improve the knowledge and practice of dry powder inhalation for COPD patients.
Keywords: knowledge, practice, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dry powder inhalation, rotahaler
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