@article {Song1040, author = {CPT Won S Song and MAJ John Mullon and Nora A Regan and COL Bernard J Roth}, title = {Instruction of Hospitalized Patients by Respiratory Therapists on Metered-Dose Inhaler Use Leads to Decrease in Patient Errors}, volume = {50}, number = {8}, pages = {1040--1045}, year = {2005}, publisher = {Respiratory Care}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hospitalized patients have been shown to make several errors in using metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), which can lead to poor medication delivery. METHODS: This study was designed to look at the potential benefit of a respiratory therapist (RT) giving instruction on the use of MDIs to hospitalized patients with obstructive lung disease. A baseline group of 58 patients was observed by a physician while performing 2 actuations of their MDI and the number of errors they committed, based on the National Institutes of Health{\textquoteright}s recommended 8 steps for proper MDI use, was recorded. After a program of MDI instruction (which included encouragement to use a spacer) by an RT was performed, a second group of hospitalized patients was again observed by a physician to determine if their error rate was reduced. RESULTS: The baseline error rate was 6.72 (out of 15 possible) errors per patient, and improved to 2.43 errors per patient after RT-provided instruction (p \< 0.001). This improvement was still significant after controlling for an increased use of spacers in the post-instruction group of patients (27.6\% and 91.7\% spacer use before and after education). CONCLUSIONS: Instruction of hospitalized patients with obstructive lung disease by an RT improves their correct use of MDIs and increases their use of spacers while in the hospital.}, issn = {0020-1324}, URL = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/50/8/1040}, eprint = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/50/8/1040.full.pdf}, journal = {Respiratory Care} }