Leiva-Fernández, FranciscaLeiva-Fernández, JoséZubeldia-Santoyo, FernandoGarcía-Ruiz, AntonioPrados-Torres, DanielBarnestein-Fonseca, Pilar2013-10-292013-10-292012-05-22Leiva-Fernández F, Leiva-Fernández J, Zubeldia-Santoyo F, García-Ruiz A, Prados-Torres D, Barnestein-Fonseca P. Efficacy of two educational interventions about inhalation techniques in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). TECEPOC: study protocol for a partially randomized controlled trial (preference trial). Trials. 2012; 13:64TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRTCTN15106246.http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1363Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRTCTN15106246. Comparative Study; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;BACKGROUND Drugs for inhalation are the cornerstone of therapy in obstructive lung disease. We have observed that up to 75 % of patients do not perform a correct inhalation technique. The inability of patients to correctly use their inhaler device may be a direct consequence of insufficient or poor inhaler technique instruction. The objective of this study is to test the efficacy of two educational interventions to improve the inhalation techniques in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). METHODS This study uses both a multicenter patients´ preference trial and a comprehensive cohort design with 495 COPD-diagnosed patients selected by a non-probabilistic method of sampling from seven Primary Care Centers. The participants will be divided into two groups and five arms. The two groups are: 1) the patients´ preference group with two arms and 2) the randomized group with three arms. In the preference group, the two arms correspond to the two educational interventions (Intervention A and Intervention B) designed for this study. In the randomized group the three arms comprise: intervention A, intervention B and a control arm. Intervention A is written information (a leaflet describing the correct inhalation techniques). Intervention B is written information about inhalation techniques plus training by an instructor. Every patient in each group will be visited six times during the year of the study at health care center. DISCUSSION Our hypothesis is that the application of two educational interventions in patients with COPD who are treated with inhaled therapy will increase the number of patients who perform a correct inhalation technique by at least 25 %. We will evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions on patient inhalation technique improvement, considering that it will be adequate and feasible within the context of clinical practice.enBroncodilatadoresConocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en SaludNebulizadores y VaporizadoresEducación del paciente como asuntoPrioridad del pacienteEnfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva CrónicaResultado del tratamientoAdministración por inhalaciónMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Therapeutic Uses::Respiratory System Agents::Anti-Asthmatic Agents::Bronchodilator AgentsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Equipment DesignMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation::Delivery of Health Care::Attitude to Health::Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Equipment and Supplies::Nebulizers and VaporizersMedical Subject Headings::Publication Characteristics::Publication Components::Patient Education HandoutMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services::Health Services::Preventive Health Services::Health Education::Patient Education as TopicMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation::Delivery of Health Care::Attitude to Health::Patient Acceptance of Health Care::Patient Satisfaction::Patient PreferenceMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Respiratory Tract Diseases::Lung Diseases::Lung Diseases, Obstructive::Pulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Environment and Public Health::Public Health::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Research DesignMedical Subject Headings::Geographicals::Geographic Locations::Europe::SpainMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Psychomotor Performance::Task Performance and AnalysisMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation::Quality of Health Care::Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms::Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)::Outcome Assessment (Health Care)::Treatment OutcomeMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Drug Therapy::Drug Administration Routes::Administration, Inhalationresearch article22613015open access10.1186/1745-6215-13-641745-6215PMC3404981