SHBC1566

L.PRABHAKARAN¹, PANG.P W.¹, LIM.H.F², NORA BTE SAID², JALEELAHBEEVI², WONG W M³, SHEENA N¹, LIM C J¹

Tan Tock Seng Hospital¹, National University Hospital², National Healthcare Group HQ³

GP clinics and polyclinics manage approximately 80 % of asthma patients in Singapore. Basic Skills Management of Asthma (BSMA) training, was provided to General Practice (GP) clinic assistants (CAs). Equipping CAs with knowledge and skills related to asthma management will thus enhance their roles in GP clinics.

To evaluate the efficacy of a pilot, nurse-led BSMA training workshop in improving CAs’ knowledge of asthma management and competency in inhaler techniques.

Two half-day workshops were conducted encompassing structured lectures, and hands-on skills training in inhaler techniques. The second workshop encompassed role play, group discussions and assessment of asthma knowledge and competency in inhaler techniques.

23 CAs were enrolled. 73 % of CAs rated their baseline knowledge of asthma and inhaler techniques as fair/poor/very poor. Over 70 % of CAs were not taught how to use inhaler devices prior to the workshop. Only 6.5 % of CAs rated themselves as confident in teaching patients about inhaler usage. No significant difference was observed between the overall pre and post-workshop on knowledge scores (median (IQR): 90 (10) vs. 90 (10), P = 0.275). However, there were significant improvements in inhaler technique competency for all 4 inhaler devices assessed. 95% indicate the workshop was useful and relevant, while over 90 % responded that it increased their confidence in teaching colleagues and patients.

BSMA training workshop was effective in increasing CAs’ competency in inhaler techniques. Further revision of the knowledge assessment questionnaires is required to study the effect on knowledge asthma management.