Evaluation of the inhaler therapy technique in personalized health care units

• Autor(a) principal: Mendes, Sara Dias
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Simões, Rui Alexandre Bento, Rodrigues, Francisco José Barbas, Coelho, Patrícia Margarida dos Santos Carvalheiro, Pires, Joana Rita Espírito Santo Ramos
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.25758/set.490
• topic: Dispositivos inalatórios; Técnica inalatória; Ensino e patologias respiratórias; Inhaler devices; Inhaler technique; Education, and respiratory pathologies

Introduction – An incorrect execution of inhalation is the main reason for therapeutic failure and, therefore, it’s extremely important the proper execution of the technique so that an adequate administration of the drug in the airways occurs and, subsequently, better control of respiratory disease and a substantial improvement in the quality of life of individuals. Objectives – To evaluate the inhaler therapeutic technique performed, in a simulated form, by patients with respiratory pathologies, before and after a teaching session. Methods – The study is analytical, observational, and cross-sectional, with a sample consisting of 15 individuals from the São Tiago and São Miguel Health Centres in Castelo Branco, with any type of acquired respiratory pathology, who used inhaler devices as a therapeutic form of the disease and aged 18 years or older. Results – Most participants (80%) did not correctly perform their inhalation, making at least one major and/or minor error. Discussion – Despite the discrepancy in the number of participants between this study and some studies previously conducted by other authors, all of them showed identical results to those obtained in this study. Thus, the existing literature supports the results of this research. Conclusion – In view of the existence of patients with inhaler errors, it is essential to evaluate the frequency of their exposure to theoretical and practical information/training on the use of inhalers, with the main focus on the correction of errors detected. In this sense, technical health professionals present an indispensable role in the education and teaching of patients.