The Extent of Patient’s Satisfaction Regarding Inhaler Counselling in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – A Cross-sectional Study

<ns3:p>Background Asthma is a common condition of chronic inflammation of the lower respiratory tract. Non-adherence to inhalation therapy and incorrect inhalation techniques is an important problem for optimal disease management. However, no previous studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia to evaluate patient satisfaction with pharmacist counseling. Thus, we aim to study the extent of patient satisfaction with inhaler counseling and the factors associated with the appropriate use of inhaler techniques in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional single-center face-to-face meeting survey was carried out between January to March 2024. That was conducted at Heraa General Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. We used a 16-item questionnaire by Counseling’s Satisfaction and Appropriate Use of Inhaler Technique (CSAUIT). Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results A total of 286 patients were included in the study. Of these, 118 (41.3%) were males, and 168 (58.7%) were females. The improper use of inhaler devices was observed in 179 (62.6%) of the patients, and the majority of patients (37.4%) were satisfied with pharmacist counseling. The majority of patients (60.50%) reported not receiving any explanation from the pharmacist as to why the inhaler was prescribed. A very low percentage of patients (16.8%) have been shown what to do when they forget a dose. About 95.9% of patients did not know the appropriate way to clean the inhaler device. An analysis based on education level found that participants holding a bachelor’s degree knew the correct use of inhaler devices as compared to participants in high school, and this difference was significant (P = 0.000). Conclusion This study showed that most patients were satisfied by pharmacist counseling about inhalers. However, the Inhaler technique among these patients was inadequate.</ns3:p>