Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 194 (A-2002/3)Evaluation of the Theory-Practice Knowledge of the Usage of the MeteredDose Inhalers among Primary Health Dare Physicians in Al Ain, August 2002Student Authors: Mohd Matar Obaid Al-Mehairi, Essam Mohd Noor A.M. Howayyer,Taleb Mohd Ebrahim Al-Mansoor, Khaleil Ebrahem Abdulla M Al-MatroushiFaculty Supervisors: Dr. F. Al Maskari, Dr. M.M. HossainAbstract:Objectives to assess weather all GPs follow all the steps of using the inhaler when theyteach their patients or not. If not, then what are the common mistakes they do? Dothe age of the GP, his/her gender, nationality, occupation or years of experience haveany impact on his/her technique.Methods A cross sectional study was conducted in the Primary Health Care Centres inAI-Ain Medical District. A total number of 43 physicians from nine PHC Centres enteredthis study. An interviewer-assessed questionnaire, composed of 13 questions wasused. Also, a five steps scale assessed physicians' inhaling techniques.Results 51 % of the physician had poor inhaler technique. The most common mistakesamong those whom inhaler technique was poor were the following: holding the breath(85.7%), mouthpiece holding (66.7%), shaking (57.10/0), deep-breath (47.6%) andpuffing while breathing in (38.1 %). As the number of prescribed inhaler increases theinhaler technique of the physician improves.Conclusions We concluded that most of the primary health care physicians in AI Ainare unable to perform the inhalation technique properly. Also it was noticed that as thenumber of the prescribed inhaler increases the inhalation technique of the physicianimproves.