Authors: (including presenting author): :
Lam CH (1), Tsang CH(2), Man MY(3), Tsang CH (4)
Affiliation: :
Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital
Keyword 1: :
pressurized metered dose inhaler
Keyword 2: :
Inhalation Technique
Introduction: :
Proper use of a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) is essential for effective management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, incorrect inhaler techniques among healthcare professionals and patients remain common, leading to poor treatment outcomes. Nurses play a vital role in inhaler administration and patient education; therefore, their competence directly impacts care quality. This ward-based project in the Medical and Geriatric Unit of Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital aimed to assess and enhance nurses’ pMDI skills through a structured educational program. The intervention included a PowerPoint presentation and individualized demonstrations, followed by pre- and post-training evaluations. By strengthening nurses’ proficiency, the project aims to reduce inhaler misuse and improve patient education and respiratory care outcomes.
Objectives: :
1) To carry out a pilot study and explore nurses’ inhaler technique levels in a medical ward. 2) To enhance nurses’ proficiency and competency in pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) use, including their ability to provide inhaler education to patients. 3) To decrease the rate of pMDI misuse by ensuring nurses understand and apply correct inhaler techniques.
Methodology: :
An educational intervention was implemented that included a PowerPoint presentation covering inhalation skills and individualized one-on-one demonstrations. Nurses who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from the HKHB A4M ward. Inclusion Criteria: Employed as a part-time or full-time nurse. Both enrolled nurses (ENs) and registered nurses (RNs) in the A4M ward. Exclusion Criteria: Nurses who were not working in the ward. A total of 25 nurses participated and successfully completed the project. Measurement of Success: The project was conducted among medical and geriatric nurses in the A4M ward. Participants received a full explanation of the project’s purpose and methodology before data collection. The Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital (OLMH) pMDI Checklists were adopted — one for pMDI alone and another for pMDI with spacers. Each checklist contained 10 essential steps for correct inhaler operation. Participants demonstrated their inhaler techniques using both tools, assessed at two time points: T0 (Baseline): Pre-intervention assessment. T1 (3rd Month): Post-intervention reassessment following educational training.
Result & Outcome: :
Results: At baseline (T0), the average score for correct pMDI use was 7.04/10 & pMDI with spacer technique 8.58/10. Following the intervention — which included an educational PowerPoint and one-on-one demonstrations — the average score improved significantly to 9.29/10 for pMDI only and 9.33/10 for pMDI with spacer after 3 months. A paired t-test indicated a statistically significant improvement with p < 0.0001. These findings demonstrate that structured education and individual skill reinforcement effectively improve nurses’ pMDI technique, thereby minimizing potential inhaler misuse and enhancing the quality of patient education.
