1015 Improving environmental sustainability of inhaler use in paediatric asthma patients. (17th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nurse, Kristie; Patel, Karishma; Badawy, Layla; Chotai, Shivam; Roueche, Alice
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 107(2022)Supplement 2
• Page Start: A467
• Page End: A468
• Publication Date: 2022-08-17
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-rcpch.757
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Aims: The National Health Service is responsible for 5.4% of the UKs total carbon emissions. The UK uses approximately 73 million inhalers a year, with many going to landfill, contributing to 13% of the total NHS carbon footprint. 1 Many patients and staff are unaware the correct method of disposal of metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) is via pharmacies. The aim of this student-led quality improvement project is to increase environmental sustainability in paediatric asthma patients by increasing awareness of the correct disposal of MDIs. Methods: This project began in September 2021 and is based in Evelina Children's Hospital, London. Patients were surveyed in asthma clinics to measure their baseline awareness of the safe disposal and environmental impact of MDIs. From this data it became evident that to engage patients in safe disposal of MDIs it was important that we assess staff understanding. Therefore, a questionnaire was sent to staff involved in the care of asthma patients. This survey was distributed online between November 2021 and January 2022, alongside information promoting safe MDI disposal. Further avenues were pursued to raise awareness. Firstly, we designed leaflets ( figure 1 ) which were sent to all staff members to be printed for display in the hospital. It was also asked that staff give copies to patients during appointments. The aim is to include these in the standard checklist for asthma care. Our project has been received enthusiastically by communications teams in the hospital and will be shared amongst the whole hospital, GPs and patients via the intranet, social media and newsletters. Finally, we are in contact with Asthma UK to spread our reach nationally. Results: Our surveys showed 97% of patients and staff rated the importance of sustainability to be four or five out of five, identifying the importance of improvements to sustainability in healthcare. No patients or staff gave ratings of one or two ( figure 2 ). Reach: Both definite and estimated data for reach have been collected. The definite reach of the interventions is 2, 237 people. Our estimated reach, found by estimating traffic through departments and in clinics, is 3, 666 people: Awareness: Three rounds of patient survey data post clinic were collected. Patient awareness of correct inhaler disposal in round one ( n=3 ) was 0%. In the second round (n=12) 25% showed awareness. However, 0% of participants with awareness attributed this to the interventions. Round three ( n=16 ) showed 50% of participants had awareness, with 62.5% of this population directly attributing their awareness to our interventions. Conclusion: Whilst the posters have shown promising initial impact on awareness, it would be prudent to further push our message via social media, especially involving Asthma UK. The main challenge was assessing the impact of interventions, due to the difficulty in objectively measuring behaviour changes versus stated intention. Preliminary results are positive, yet modest. This information needs to become implemented into asthma care as standard to make a larger impact. This is something we are working towards, both locally and nationally. Reference: Greener NHS campaign to tackle climate 'health emergency. NHS UK.