The Impact of Inhaler Technique on the Health Outcomes and Cost Among Adults With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Saudi Arabia
Author(s)
Raid Alomari, MS1, Abdulrahman Alshamrani, MS2, Bander Balkhi, PharmD, PhD3.
1KING ABDULLAH MEDICAL CENTRE,, jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2East Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 3Faculty Advisor, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
1KING ABDULLAH MEDICAL CENTRE,, jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2East Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 3Faculty Advisor, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVES: The inadequate utilization of inhalers has been thoroughly examined and linked to adverse clinical outcomes among diverse patient cohorts. The present study aims to assess health outcomes among asthmatic and COPD patients at King Abdullah Medical Complex in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdullah Medical Complex in Jeddah utilizing a meticulously designed 39-item questionnaire survey. Data were collected from 132 patients and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square test to ascertain validity, reliability, consistency, and correlation.
RESULTS: The study population consisted of 39.4% males and 60.6% females, with the majority aged between 35 and 44 years. Regarding smoking habits, 27.3% were current smokers. Asthma was diagnosed in 92.4% of participants, while 7.6% had COPD. The majority (79.5%) described their respiratory condition as moderate. Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) were the most commonly used inhaler type, and 61.4% of participants reported using their inhaler daily. However, 31.8% lacked knowledge about proper inhaler storage, and 45.5% were unaware of potential side effects. Proper inhaler technique was inconsistently practiced: only 17.4% always remembered to exhale fully before inhalation, and just 48.5% of MDI users consistently shook the inhaler before use. Asthma control, assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), showed that 63.1% of participants occasionally experienced activity limitations due to asthma. Shortness of breath and nocturnal symptoms were frequently reported. Half of the respondents (50.8%) used reliever medication occasionally. ACT scores indicated that 63.9% had very poor asthma control. Significant associations were observed between asthma control and demographic factors such as gender, age, education level, employment status, and smoking.
CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial gaps in knowledge and practice regarding inhaler use among asthma and COPD patients, necessitating targeted educational initiatives. Proper inhaler use is crucial for better asthma control, underscoring the need for comprehensive patient education programs.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdullah Medical Complex in Jeddah utilizing a meticulously designed 39-item questionnaire survey. Data were collected from 132 patients and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square test to ascertain validity, reliability, consistency, and correlation.
RESULTS: The study population consisted of 39.4% males and 60.6% females, with the majority aged between 35 and 44 years. Regarding smoking habits, 27.3% were current smokers. Asthma was diagnosed in 92.4% of participants, while 7.6% had COPD. The majority (79.5%) described their respiratory condition as moderate. Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) were the most commonly used inhaler type, and 61.4% of participants reported using their inhaler daily. However, 31.8% lacked knowledge about proper inhaler storage, and 45.5% were unaware of potential side effects. Proper inhaler technique was inconsistently practiced: only 17.4% always remembered to exhale fully before inhalation, and just 48.5% of MDI users consistently shook the inhaler before use. Asthma control, assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), showed that 63.1% of participants occasionally experienced activity limitations due to asthma. Shortness of breath and nocturnal symptoms were frequently reported. Half of the respondents (50.8%) used reliever medication occasionally. ACT scores indicated that 63.9% had very poor asthma control. Significant associations were observed between asthma control and demographic factors such as gender, age, education level, employment status, and smoking.
CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial gaps in knowledge and practice regarding inhaler use among asthma and COPD patients, necessitating targeted educational initiatives. Proper inhaler use is crucial for better asthma control, underscoring the need for comprehensive patient education programs.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
PCR231
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)