Study finds COPD patients are not learning how to properly use their inhaler devices
Inhaled medications play an important role in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and it is imperative that the inhaler device be used properly to effectively treat the disease. However, in a recently released study in the Journal of the COPD Foundation, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions found that healthcare providers and patients prioritize medication over device when selecting treatments, showing limited concerns about proper device use.
“For COPD, there are several inhaler devices through which most medications are administered, but we noticed over the years that many patients don’t use their inhaler correctly,” said lead author Dr. Nicola Hanania, associate professor of medicine in the section of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine and director of the airways clinical research center at Baylor. “This study, which was conducted via a survey, aimed to look at both the healthcare providers and the patients’ perspectives and beliefs about inhaler devices used to treat their COPD.”
The study included two surveys, one targeting healthcare practitioners who treat COPD and the other targeting patients with COPD in the United States. A total of 513 survey responses were collected from healthcare practitioners, and 499 survey responses were collected from patients.
The study uncovered several gaps in healthcare practitioners’ and patients’ understanding of the role of inhalation devices in COPD management. After reviewing the surveys from each group, researchers found that patients and healthcare providers put how to use their inhaler device second in importance to the drug being used to treat their COPD.
Researchers also identified that there is a need for better education related to inhaler devices. Many patients are not getting an adequate amount of education from their healthcare practitioner about how to use their inhaler device. The study highlights potential unmet needs and opportunities for future interventions to coordinate professional and patient-directed education to further promote proper device selection and use in COPD management.
Source: Read Full Article
Utafiti unaonyesha kuwa wagonjwa wa COPD hawajifunzi jinsi ya kutumia vifaa vyao vya inhaler kwa usahihi, na dawa za kupumua zina jukumu muhimu katika kutibu ugonjwa wa mapafu wa kudumu (COPD) na ni muhimu kwamba kifaa cha inhaler kitumiwe vizuri ili kutibu ugonjwa huo. Katika utafiti uliochapishwa hivi karibuni katika jarida la Jari la COPD Foundation, watafiti kutoka Chuo cha Tiba cha Baylor na taasisi zingine waligundua kuwa watoa huduma za afya na wagonjwa wanapendelea dawa kuliko kifaa wakati wa kuchagua matibabu, na kuonyesha wasiwasi mdogo juu ya matumizi sahihi ya kifaa. "Kwa COPD, kuna vifaa kadhaa vya inhaler kupitia ambavyo dawa nyingi hutolewa, lakini tuligundua kwa miaka mingi kwamba wagonjwa wengi hawatumii inhaler yao kwa usahihi, ""alisema mwandishi mkuu Dk Nicola Hanania, profesa msaidizi wa dawa katika sehemu ya mapafu, huduma muhimu na dawa ya usingizi na mkurugenzi wa kituo cha utafiti wa kliniki cha njia za hewa huko Baylor." "Utafiti huu, uliofanywa kupitia uchunguzi, ulilenga kuangalia mtazamo na imani ya watoa huduma za afya na wagonjwa kuhusu vifaa vya inhaler vinavyotumiwa kutibu COPD yao. ""Utafiti huo ulijumuisha tafiti mbili, moja iliyoelekezwa kwa watendaji wa huduma za afya ambao hutibu COPD na nyingine iliyoelekezwa kwa wagonjwa wa COPD nchini Marekani." Kwa jumla, majibu ya utafiti wa jumla ya 513 yalitolewa kwa wataalamu wa huduma za afya na 499 yalitolewa kwa wagonjwa. Utafiti huo ulifunua mapungufu kadhaa katika uelewa wa watendaji wa huduma za afya na wagonjwa wa jukumu la vifaa vya kupumua katika usimamizi wa COPD. Baada ya kuchunguza tafiti kutoka kwa kila kikundi, watafiti walipata kuwa wagonjwa na watoa huduma za afya huweka jinsi ya kutumia kifaa cha kupumua kwa umuhimu wa pili kwa dawa inayotumiwa kutibu COPD yao. Watafiti pia waligundua kwamba kuna uhitaji wa elimu bora inayohusiana na vifaa vya inhaler. Wagonjwa wengi hawapati elimu ya kutosha kutoka kwa daktari wao wa huduma ya afya juu ya jinsi ya kutumia kifaa cha kupumua. Utafiti huo unaangazia mahitaji ya uwezekano na fursa za uingiliaji wa baadaye ili kuratibu elimu ya kitaaluma na ya mgonjwa ili kuendeleza uteuzi sahihi wa kifaa na matumizi katika usimamizi wa COPD. Chanzo: Soma makala nzima