Metered-dose inhaler for asthma patients: knowledge and effects of a theoretical and practical guidance for pediatricians

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of a theoretical and practical guidance on knowledge of pediatricians regarding the use of metered dose inhalers with spacers. To identify major deficiencies, correct them and train these physicians on the correct use of the devices. Methods: Pediatricians who participated in a theoretical-practical program focusing on the use of inhaler devices answered a questionnaire with five questions about the use of these devices before and after the program. A comparison of the scores obtained in the pre- and post-training tests was performed by Wilcoxon test for related samples, and a significance level of 0.05 was adopted. Results: Twenty pediatricians performed pre- and post-training tests. The performance of pediatricians in the post-training test was significantly better than baseline (p<0.001). Conclusion: A brief orientation program for pediatricians significantly improved their knowledge on the use of metered-dose inhalers with spacers, which may translate into an improvement in quality and quantity of prescriptions of these devices in clinical practice. The questions with higher rates of errors in the pre-training test were the questions about the waiting time between two sprays in successive applications and about the correct way to attach the inhaler to the spacer, both with high levels of success in the post-training test.

摘要 目的：评估理论与实践指导对儿科医师掌握带储雾罐的定量吸入器（metered dose inhalers with spacers）使用知识的影响，旨在明确其主要知识缺陷并加以纠正，同时培训医师正确使用该类器械。方法：参与以吸入器使用为核心的理论实践培训项目的儿科医师，在培训前后分别完成一份包含5道相关问题的问卷。采用威尔科克森检验（Wilcoxon test）对培训前后的测试得分进行比较，显著性水平设定为0.05。结果：共有20名儿科医师完成了培训前后的测试。培训后儿科医师的测试表现显著优于基线水平（p<0.001）。结论：针对儿科医师的简短培训项目可显著提升其对带储雾罐的定量吸入器的使用知识，这有望改善临床实践中该类器械的处方质量与开具量。培训前错误率较高的问题涉及两次连续喷药间的等待时长，以及吸入器与储雾罐的正确连接方式，且这两类问题在培训后的作答正确率均有显著提升。