Assessing the knowledge of community pharmacists about the correct use of inhaler technique in Klang valley, Malaysia

Introduction: Inhaled medicines are the mainstay of asthma and chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD) therapy. Metered dose inhaler technique is the most widely used technique to administer the medications. Patient relies on the pharmacists to provide information on the proper metered dose inhaler technique while dispensing.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of correct use of metered dose inhaler technique among the community pharmacists in Klang valley, Malaysia. 

Study Design: A Cross sectional study.

Methods: Evaluation of metered dose inhaler technique was based on a standard 11 points checklist adopted from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program of America (NAEPP). Among which 6 steps are essential (critical) to cover. Based on the critical steps such as shake the contents well, remove the cap, breath out slowly, open the mouth with inhaler 1 to 2 inches away or in the mouth with the lips tightly sealed around, begin breath in slowly and deeply through the mouth and actuate the canister once and hold breath for 10-20 seconds outlined by NAEPP, five evaluation categories were formulated as follows; optimal technique, adequate technique, poor technique, totally unfamiliar with the device, and does not know.  

Results: A total 138 community pharmacists agreed to participate in this study. The results of the study showed that 81.9% of pharmacists failed to complete the critical steps, 4.3% did not demonstrate any of the critical steps, 1.4% were unfamiliar with the device, 8% completed the steps and only 4.3% completed all the 11 steps.

Conclusions: The majority of the community pharmacists in Klang valley had poor inhaler technique. Those community pharmacists with recent training on metered dose inhaler had a better technique compared to those without training.