OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the effect of inhaler drug education on fatigue, dyspnea severity, and respiratory function tests in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted with a total of 85 patients treated at the chest diseases clinic and outpatient clinic of a state hospital. The data were collected using questionnaires, respiratory function tests, and the COPD and Asthma Fatigue Scale (CAFS) and visual analogue scale (VAS -- for dyspnea severity). RESULTS: It was determined that after 4 weeks of inhaler drug education, the CAFS mean score decreased to 35.32 +/- 14.36, the dyspnea severity mean score decreased to 4.76 +/- 2.50, and the respiratory function tests mean scores increased to forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) 58.83 +/- 25.48, forced vital capacity (FVC) 59.04 +/- 19.19, and FEV1/FVC 88.39 +/- 21.59 in the intervention group (p < 0.05). No change was observed in the patients in the control group except for FEV1 and FVC mean scores (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that inhaler drug education can improve fatigue, dyspnea severity, and respiratory function tests of patients with COPD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The training by nurses of every patient hospitalized in the clinic regarding inhaler drug therapy, and the regular checking of patients' way of using the inhaled drugs, will contribute to COPD management.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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