An Analysis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection-Related Characteristics of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients with and without Inhaler Training: A Case–Control Study

OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are among the most risky groups for Coronavirus Disease 2019. The study was conducted with a case–control group design in order to determine the coronavirus disease 2019 infection-related characteris- tics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with and without inhaler training.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 106 patients, being case group (n = 53) and control group (n = 53), were included in the study sample through purposive and simple random sampling methods. While the control group did not receive training, the case group received inhaler training in 2017-2018. Inhaler training was conducted face-to-face using the demonstration method. Patients were evaluated according to their coronavirus disease 2019 (approved by a physician positive polymerase chain reaction) status from the beginning of the pandemic to the time they were included in the study (June 2021).

RESULTS: The rate of incorrect inhaler use was determined to be 39.6% of the patients in the control group, which is statistically differ- ent from the case group (P < .001). It was also determined that 17.9% of the patients in the study sample had contracted coronavirus disease 2019. It was found that the presence of symptoms for at least 1 month following the negative polymerase chain reaction result was significantly higher in the control group (P = .018). It was determined that the case group patients were more careful compared to the control group in terms of coronavirus disease 2019 measures (P < .031). The patients in the case group reported that inhaler medicines were also effective in protecting against other respiratory system diseases (P = .006).

CONCLUSION: Few patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been infected. It was concluded that the coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms lasted longer in the control group than in the case group.

 Cite this article as: Ceyhan Y, Tekinsoy Kartın P, Güler S. An analysis of coronavirus disease 2019 infection-related characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with and without inhaler training: A case–control study. Thorac Res Pract. 2023;24(4):186-193.