Optimization of Inhalation Technique Knowledge in the Pharmacies of Matosinhos Municipality, Portugal: An Intervention Project

Abstract

Introduction: The therapeutic approach to the most common respiratory diseases, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), involves the use of inhalation devices. Its use is essential, but incorrect use is frequent, and learning and reviewing the technique is necessary for the adequate management of these diseases. Objective: This study aims to increase the knowledge of health professionals from pharmacies in the municipality of Matosinhos, Portugal, about the correct inhalation technique. Methods: The project developed from May 2022 to June 2023 was based on a training session for pharmacy professionals that took place after professionals completed a questionnaire and after evaluating each participant's inhalation technique by the authors using a checklist. Both were reapplied three months after the first evaluation. Results: Fifteen pharmacies in Matosinhos, Portugal, were invited, of which eight agreed to participate, with a total of 16 health professionals (30.8% of professionals in these pharmacies). We found that professionals questioned and taught users more times about the inhalation technique and that a greater number of professionals considered they knew how to correctly perform the inhalation technique in the second assessment. It was also possible to verify statistically significant differences (p<0.001) between the mean of correct steps in the inhalation technique between the first and second assessments. There was also an improvement in the qualitative analysis of errors in the inhalation technique. In the first assessment, the inhalation devices with the lowest percentage of correct steps were Forspiro® and Respimat®. In the second evaluation, the Diskus® and Ellipta® devices obtained 100% correct steps, with the K-haler® being the device with the lowest percentage. Conclusions: This study confirms the effectiveness of continuous training for health professionals and the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation in teaching inhalation techniques. Other studies are needed to complement these results, particularly with representative samples of the general population, or assessing the impact of this intervention in patients with respiratory diseases.