Objective: To determine if nurses could correctly use a metered-dose inhaler plus spacer (MDI-spacer) device after a brief description and demonstration of proper use by a clinical pharmacist.
Design: Pretest, educational intervention, posttest.
Setting: University hospital.
Participants: Twenty-three nurses.
Interventions: Nurses were asked to use the MDI-spacer (Aerochamber) and were scored using a nine-point checklist (pretest). Educational intervention by the clinical pharmacist consisted of a five-minute discussion and correct demonstration of the device. Nurses were then asked to use the device again (posttest).
Main outcome measures: Pre- and posttest scores.
Results: Total scores were improved after the educational intervention (66 percent pretest vs. 88 percent posttest, p = 0.0001). In an item analysis, four of the nine steps had improved significantly.
Conclusions: A brief discussion and demonstration of correct use of MDI-spacers is effective in improving nurses' skill in using the device.