Assessment of inhaler technique and treatment compliance of hospitalized patients and outpatients in a university hospital

1 Aim: The inhalation route is widely used for the treatment of obstructive lung diseases. It is considered that inadequate inhaler technique is the leading cause of therapy failure. This study was aimed to evaluate the parameters on adequate inhaler technique (IT) and treatment compliance of patients. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was applied to 200 patients with obstructive lung disease (55 hospitalized and 145 outpatients) who were using inhaler devices in a chest diseases department of a university hospital. Results: In outpatient and hospitalized groups, the most selected form of inhaler therapy was metered dose inhaler (MDI). Younger patients were using inhaler devices more correctly than older ones (p<0.05). There was a positive relationship between the duration of therapy and proper IT (p<0.05). An initial education of inhaler usage and proper IT were also statistically associated (p<0.001). There was no relationship between the educational level of patients and proper IT, awareness of the diagnosis and maintenance of inhaler therapy. The relations between the number of hospitalization and correct application technique, awareness of the diagnosis and maintenance of inhaler therapy were significant in hospitalized patients. Patients who know their diagnosis, were using inhaler devices correctly. Conclusion: The inhaler technique can be improved with an initial instruction of usage in these patients. The educational level of the patient may not influence the correct application rate without an adequate initial education of usage. In hospitalized patients, this period can be an opportunity for the education of inhaler technique and serve to select a proper inhaler treatment modality in individual basis.