Authors (including presenting author) :
Liu WT(1), Yick PK(2), Sung WY(1), Au WY(1), Pau LY(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals, (2)Pharmacy, Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals
Introduction :
With the technological innovations in respiratory medicine, many new inhaler devices have emerged and been added to Hospital Authority Drug Formulary in recent years. Nurses have a critical role in educating patients’ inhaler technique and monitoring their competence. This is a cross-department project that aims at enhancing nurses’ knowledge and skills on inhalation medication in all Medicine and Geriatrics wards as well as other wards/ units/ departments in RTSKH.
Objectives :
1. To enhance nurses’ knowledge on application, drug classes, usual dosage and common side effects of inhalation medication.
2. To enhance nurses’ competence in teaching patients how to use the inhaler devices.
Methodology :
Train-the-Trainer (TTT) Workshop
Quality & Safety (Q&S) link nurses and representatives of other wards/ units/ departments were invited to join the TTT workshops which focused on classification of COPD patients, pharmacological treatment, drug classes, usual dosage, common side effects and basic operation of different inhaler devices. Pre- and post-workshop assessments on knowledge and post-workshop assessment on skills were completed. Multidisciplinary Sharing Forum
A Q&S sharing forum were conducted in December 2018 to share updates in inhaler therapy by doctor, pharmacist and nurse. Staff Training Workshop
After attending the TTT workshop, link nurses and representatives would arrange Staff Training Workshops to respective ward staff. Nurses who were unable to attend the training workshop could read the training materials in Department Intranet. Pre- and post-workshop assessments on knowledge and post-workshop assessment on skills would be completed in March 2019.
Result & Outcome :
The TTT workshops were completed in October 2018. All participants could demonstrate correct technique in skills assessment. For the staff training workshops, 123 participants have completed the pre-workshop assessment. It was found that nurses were less familiar with new inhalation medication. Only 25% were able to classify the new inhalers, 48% knew the usual dosage and 44% knew the common side effects. The staff training workshops were still in progress. Nurses have an important role in the patient care pathway for COPD management. This project highlights the need of adequate and regular training for nurses so as to ensure their knowledge and skills on patient education. The training materials were promulgated in other wards/ units/ departments to enhance the quality of care for patients with inhalation medication.
Co-location with:
