Impact of a Structured Workshop on the Inhaler Technique Knowledge and Skills of Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Government Hospital

Background: Poor inhaler technique is associated with poor disease control. With the advent of newer inhaler devices, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured workshop on the knowledge and skills in inhaler technique of healthcare workers in the Department of Medicine of the Philippine General Hospital. Methodology: This was a quasi-experimental study which compared the knowledge and skills of HCWs on inhaler technique before and immediately after a structured inhaler workshop. A follow-up evaluation was conducted to measure the effect after a one-month period. Results: A total of 101 participants comprised of interns, nurses, and residents were included in the final analysis. Participants had low baseline knowledge scores; only 41 participants passed the pre-workshop knowledge assessment. The knowledge scores significantly increased immediately post-workshop which persisted until one month after for the residents but not for the nurses and interns. For all groups, the skill scores in using dry powder inhaler significantly improved immediately after the workshop. After one month, there was a decline in skill scores for all, but scores remained significantly higher than pre-workshop values. The metered-dose inhaler skill scores of participants immediately post-workshop showed an improvement from baseline that was sustained on follow-up. For all HCW groups, the single-dose DPI skill scores also improved immediately after the workshop and persisted after one month. At baseline, none of the interns possessed any skill in using soft mist inhaler while both nurses and residents had low skill scores. Immediately post-workshop and on one-month follow-up, SMI skill scores improved across all HCW groups. Conclusion: A structured inhaler workshop improves the knowledge and skills of HCWs on inhaler technique on a short-term basis and at one-month follow-up. Further studies are needed to determine the longevity of the effect. ----- This article has supplementary materials which can be accessed here.