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. 2024 Feb 19;24(1):153.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-05129-3.

Inhaler use technique course: an effective postgraduate training solution for pharmacists to enhance therapeutic outcomes as part of patient education

Weronika Guzenda  1 , Jerzy Żabiński  2   3 , Beata Plewka  4 , Michał Byliniak  5 , Piotr Przymuszała  6 , Piotr Dąbrowiecki  7 , Michał Michalak  8 , Magdalena Waszyk-Nowaczyk  4
Affiliations

Inhaler use technique course: an effective postgraduate training solution for pharmacists to enhance therapeutic outcomes as part of patient education

Weronika Guzenda et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could benefit from education on using inhalers provided by pharmacists. However, pharmacists may have limited competencies, indicating the necessity to implement appropriate postgraduate courses. The study aimed to evaluate an inhaler use course for pharmacists, including its impact on participants' knowledge and satisfaction.

Methods: The study involved 261 pharmacists from community pharmacies and was conducted between September 2019 and March 2021. A pre-post analysis of their knowledge of the topic was applied. Additionally, at the beginning of the course, participants were asked about their educational needs, and at the end, they completed a satisfaction survey. The preferred learning formats indicated by participants were interactive workshops and lectures.

Results: As a result of the course, both their actual and self-assessed level of knowledge significantly increased. The percentage of correct answers in the test before the training was 24.4%, while after, it was 84.3% (p < 0.0001). Before the course, their average self-assessed level of knowledge was 52.0%, and after the training, it increased to 90.0% (p < 0.0001). Almost all respondents stated that the course met their expectations. They estimated their satisfaction at 94.0% and the usefulness of the provided information at 98.0%.

Conclusions: Improved preparation of pharmacists resulting from their participation in the course can contribute to providing more professional advice to patients, thereby positively influencing the pharmaceutical care process in community pharmacies.

Keywords: Asthma; COPD; Inhalers’ use training; Pharmaceutical care; Pharmacist.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Patient with a prescription for an inhaler - procedure scheme [27]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Answers to the question of who should conduct the training by gender (n = 250, multiple choice question)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Pharmacists’ interest in the different topics of training, depending on their gender (multiple choice question)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Pharmacists’ interest in the topic of etiology, diagnosis of asthma and COPD, and the possibility of helping patients in a pharmacy depending on their age (p = 0.02477)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Summary of the respondents’ satisfaction level concerning the implemented training (n = 215)
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Summary of the pharmacists’ knowledge self-assessment before and after the training (p < 0.0001)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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