Inhaler Technique Training

Evaluating the Efficacy of 2 Different Educational Strategies for Improving and Maintaining Inhaler Technique

The evidence for poor inhaler technique is both well established and observed worldwide. What is unclear from the evidence is why individuals demonstrate poor technique, despite the majority admitting to having previously had instruction on inhaler technique. The primary research question is 'Will there be a difference between post education inhaler technique scores when comparing structured education against informal education?'

To try and establish why individuals use inhalers incorrectly a semi structured interview is proposed

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Asthma Chronic
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Assessment of inhaler technique pre and 6 weeks post training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 35 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Inclusion criteria will be anybody whose regular treatment requires inhaled medication. They will be included regardless of age, disease, inhaler device used or cognition.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The only exclusion criteria will be if a willing participant is not on an inhaler of any type.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Standard care; This arm will receive standard care which involves informal education on how to use metered dose inhalers
Active Comparator: Structured education; This arm will receive structured education on the use of inhalers. At 6 weeks post education inhaler technique will be re-assessed. Participants who fail to achieve a set level of competence may be chosen for semi structured interview.	Behavioral: Assessment of inhaler technique pre and 6 weeks post training; Assessment of inhaler technique on day one. Education package and training on inhaler use at week 2. Final assessment to establish maintenance of inhaler competence at week 8

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Inhaler technique scores will be compared at 6 weeks post inhaler technique education. The proportion achieving proficiency will be compared between those recieving usual care and those recieving structured care.	6 weeks per cohort

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 31, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 4, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): November 5, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 5, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 4, 2014
• Last Verified: October 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRAS Project ID: 153018