An Intervention Study of Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Patient Counseling on Metered Dose Inhalers and Nebulizers

Abstract

To carry out an intervention study on pharmacists’ knowledge on metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and nebulizers, and patient counseling on MDIs in a tertiary hospital in South-Western Nigeria. A pre-post interventional study conducted among pharmacists in the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the participants to obtain data for background assessment of the pharmacists’ knowledge and patient counseling vis-à-vis metered dose inhalers and nebulizers. A seminar was organized to update the pharmacists’ knowledge and patient counseling on MDIs and nebulizers. Post-intervention assessment was done a month after the intervention. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics at p<0.05. Response rate was 81% (85/105). Pharmacists knowledge on MDIs and nebulizers improved significantly from 5.19 (SD=1.92) pre-intervention, out of 12 to 7.47 (SD=1.88) post-intervention (p<0.001). Assessment of pharmacists’ patient counseling on MDIs increased significantly from 4.17 (SD=2.83) pre-intervention, out of 11, to 7.19 (SD=3.52) post-intervention (p<0.001). At least 50% of MDI administration steps was correctly stated by 33.1% and 71.7% of the pharmacists pre- and post-intervention, respectively. Only 2.4% and 23.5% of the pharmacists stated all the MDI administration steps correctly, pre-intervention and post-intervention, respectively. Pharmacists’ additional educational qualifications, previous personal use of asthma inhalation medication and years of hospital pharmacy work experience influenced their assessment scores. The intervention carried out among the hospital pharmacists improved their knowledge on MDIs and nebulizers and also increased their patient counseling on MDIs.