Knowledge Level of Pharmacy Workers about Chronic Airway Diseases and Inhaler Devices

Abstract

Aim: Pharmacy workers have an important role on ‘patient self-management’ and ‘medication use’. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of chronic airway diseases and knowledge level of inhaler devices usage in pharmacy workers. Study Design: A questionnaire for assessment the knowledge of COPD, asthma and inhaler device in pharmacy workers before and after the education seminar was performed. Results: There were 112 (59.9%) female, 75 (40.1%) male and mean age was 32.4±9.9 years. The knowledge level about the COPD as a lung disease (98%), smoking as the most important etiological agent (95.1%) and smoking cessation as the most important option in prevention and treatment of the disease (98.9%) were quite high. However, before education knowledge level about long-term oxygen treatment and prophylactic influenza vaccination was lower which was increased with education seminar. The knowledge level about asthma may observe in all age groups (98.2%) and it is not an infectious disease (98.2%) was quite high. However knowledge level about the hereditary feature of asthma and non-addictive effects of asthma medication was lower which was increased with the education seminar. Before seminar 114 (70.8%) participants claimed that they know the demonstration of inhaler device, this ratio increased to 98.1% after the seminar. It is suggested that increase the knowledge level of pharmacy workers about chronic airway disease and inhaler devices would increase treatment success. Conclusion: It is suggested that increase the knowledge of pharmacy workers about chronic airway disease and inhaler devices would increase treatment success.