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.

我们在专门的呼吸住院病房内进行了一项横断面研究，评估了 25 名护士 [85% 女性，8.0 ± 7.9（平均 ± 标准差）年护理经验]使用自我报告问卷提供吸入器设备教育的信心，以及他们使用八种不同吸入器设备的能力（正确步骤百分比）。16% 的参与者对提供吸入器教育“不自信”，而 84% 的人“中等”或“非常”自信。所有设备的平均 (±SD)% 正确步长为 47 ± 17%。正确步骤百分比与护理年限（r = 0.21，p = 0.31）或提供吸入器教育的“信心”（r = 0.02，p = 0.91）之间没有相关性，但正确步骤百分比与个人设备处方数量密切相关前一年在医院内（r = 0.78，p = 0.039）。大多数呼吸科护士对教授吸入器技术充满信心，但他们正确使用吸入器的整体表现能力较差，特别是对于我们医院内不常使用的设备。无论经验或信心如何，定期评估和持续教育呼吸护士正确吸入器技术对于优化护士的所有设备使用都是必要的。