The effect of an asthma education program on healthcare workers' knowledge of and ability to use metered dose inhalers

Abstract

Healthcare professionals should be the patient's best resource for learning metered dose inhaler technique. Past research shows the majority of healthcare workers can not correctly demonstrate use of inhalers. This study evaluated the skills and knowledge of 30 healthcare workers before and after an asthma educational program. A knowledge and demonstration score was obtained pre-education and within 48 hours post-education. The pre-education demonstration mean score was 4.3 (±2.3)~ total possible score 7. The pre-education knowledge mean score was 5 .3 (± 1. 7) total possible score 10. After education~ these scores rose significantly with the mean demonstration score increasing to 6.0 (p=.000)~ and the mean knowledge score increasing to 7.9 (p=.000). An additional 32 subjects were tested at one time period only. The scores of the pretest only and posttest only groups were similar to those tested at both times. More study should be done on long term retention of inhaler technique.