Collin R. Beatty|Laura Flynn|Tracy J. Costello
The Impact of Health Literacy Level on Inhaler Technique in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Fraunhofer USA|NorthShore University HealthSystem|Butler University|Community Health Network
inhaled medications recommended firstline treatment chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd reduce exacerbations hospitalizations low health literacy associated poor inhaler techniquethis study examined whether handouts written specifically patients low health literacy effective showing patients use medications compared standard education materialsa prospective experimental study performed communitybased hospital patients included study admitted hospital diagnosis copd taking least 1 inhaled medication identified low health literacy based rapid estimate adult literacy medicineshort form low health literacy handouts compared standard hospital educational materials inhalers correct technique demonstration evaluated using standardized checklistmean baseline scores inhaler technique 122 22 steps correct control group 134 13 low healthliteracy group 18 maximum points p nonsignificant mean change inhaler technique score control group 10 18 mean change inhaler technique score low healthliteracy group 21 27 p 03