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Clinical Trial
. 2004 Jan;33(1):6-10.
doi: 10.1016/s0212-6567(04)78870-8.

[Written information on the use of aerosols in COPD patients. Can we improve their use?]

[Article in Spanish]
M Leal Hernández  1 , J Abellán Alemán, J Martínez Crespo, A Nicolás Bastida
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

[Written information on the use of aerosols in COPD patients. Can we improve their use?]

[Article in Spanish]
M Leal Hernández et al. Aten Primaria. 2004 Jan.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objectives: To determine whether the use of written information alone improved inhalation technique with pressurized canister inhalers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To compare the effectiveness of written information versus verbal explanation provided by nursing personnel on the use of inhalers.

Design: Interventional study.

Setting: Urban health center.

Participants: 120 patients with COPD treated with pressurized canister inhalers.

Interventions: The participants were divided randomly into three groups of 40 patients each. In one group no intervention was used, in the second group verbal explanations were provided, and in the third group written information was provided.

Main measures: We recorded percentage compliance with 5 criteria for the correct use of inhalers at the start of the study and 3 months after the intervention in all groups.

Results: Initially, performance of the inhalation technique by patients with COPD was poor (mean compliance 40%). Performance improved significantly in both intervention groups, with no significant difference between them. Final mean compliance was 74% in the written information group and 82% in the verbal information group.

Conclusions: The use of written information about the use of inhalers for patients with COPD significantly improved utilization to a degree similar to that obtained with verbal explanations.

Objetivos: Objetivos. Identificar si el empleo de información escrita exclusivamente mejora la calidad de uso de aerosoles presurizados en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). Comparar la eficacia de la información escrita exclusiva sobre el uso de aerosoles frente a la explicación oral del uso de estos dispositivos por parte del personal de enfermería

Diseño: Estudio de intervención

Emplazamiento: Centro de salud urbano

Participantes: Un total de 120 pacientes con EPOC en tratamiento con aerosoles presurizados

Intervenciones: División aleatoria en tres grupos de 40 personas. En uno de ellos no se aplica ninguna intervención; en otro, intervención mediante explicación oral y en el tercero intervención mediante información escrita

Mediciones principales: Porcentaje de cumplimiento de 5 criterios sobre el correcto uso de aerosoles inicialmente y 3 meses después de la intervención en todos los grupos

Resultados: Inicialmente se aprecia una baja calidad en el uso de aerosoles presurizados en los pacientes con EPOC (cumplimiento medio de criterios del 40%). La calidad de uso aumenta significativamente en ambos grupos de intervención, y no se aprecian diferencias significativas entre ellos. El cumplimiento medio final de criterios en el grupo de información escrita fue del 74%, frente a un 82% en el grupo de información oral

Conclusiones: El uso de información escrita sobre el uso de aerosoles en pacientes con EPOC mejora significativamente su calidad de utilización, en grado similar a su explicación oral

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References

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