EVALUATION OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PROPER INHALER TECHNIQUE AND
ANXIETY IN ASTHMA AND COPD PATIENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Abstract
Objective: Medication nonadherence (MNA) is a main problem in patients
with asthma and COPD. Association of anxiety and MNA is confusing and is
not clear. Improper inhaler technique is an unintentional component of
inhaler MNA. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association
between inhaler medication usage skills and general anxiety or
coronavirus anxiety scales. Materials and methods: Inhaler usage
techniques of 70 asthma and COPD patients were evaluated by three
clinical pharmacists. The anxiety scores of the patients were calculated
by a pulmonologist according to the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
(HAM-A) and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). Results: Only 32.9% of the
patients were using their inhalers properly. There were only 10 (%13.3)
patients who had all steps correct. CAS score, age, comorbidity and
inhaler type were not found to be associated with proper inhaler
technique. Only the HAM-A stage (p=0.096) and educational status
(p=0.074) approached statistical significance in affecting the proper
inhaler technique. A weak correlation was found between age and CAS
score (r=-0.278, p=0.02). Coronavirus anxiety rate is higher in asthma
patients than in COPD patients (p=0.036). HAM-A and CAS scores of female
patients were higher than men (p<0.05). There was a moderate
correlation between HAM-A score and CAS score (r=0.407,
p<0.001). The correlation between HAM-A score and inhalation
skills score approached statistical significance (r=-0.208, p=0.083).
Conclusion: Most COPD and asthma patients use their inhalers improperly.
More attention should be paid to inhaler use skills training, especially
in the low education level group and moderate-severe anxiety group.