We performed a cross-sectional study within a specialised respiratory inpatient unit assessing 25 nurses' [85% female, 8.0 ± 7.9 (mean ± SD) years' experience in nursing] confidence in providing inhaler device education using a self-reported questionnaire, and their competency (% correct steps) in using eight different inhaler devices. Sixteen percent of participants were 'not confident' providing inhaler education, while 84% were 'moderately' or 'extremely' confident. The mean (±SD)% correct steps for all devices was 47 ± 17%. There was no correlation between % correct steps and nursing years (r = 0.21, p = 0.31), or 'confidence' with providing inhaler education (r = 0.02, p = 0.91) but % correct steps strongly correlated with number of individual device prescriptions within the hospital in the preceding year (r = 0.78, p = 0.039). Most respiratory nurses felt confident in teaching inhaler technique but their overall demonstrated ability to correctly use inhalers was poor, especially for less frequently prescribed devices within our hospital. Regular assessment and ongoing education on correct inhaler technique for respiratory nurses is necessary to optimise all device usage by nurses, irrespective of experience or confidence.
Keywords: COPD; clinical nursing research; dry powder inhalers; metered dose inhalers; respiratory nurses.