Comparing Nebulizer and Spacer for Less Than 10 Years Children: Evidence Based Nursing

Running head: EVIDENCE BASED NURSING
Evidence based nursing
Name of the student
University name
Author’s note

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EVIDENCE BASED NURSING
Introduction
The current study focuses upon the aspect of evidence based nursing practices. The
implementation of such practices could help in the improvement of the overall quality of the
health and support services. Therefore, practising in an emergency department as a reporting
nurse I need to apply a number of evidence based practices which will help in effective
evaluation of the health condition of the patient. Additionally, implementation of the
evidence based practices helps to reduce the rates of medical negligence. In the current study,
a number of evidence based articles have been used to compare between nebulizer and spacer
for less than 10 years children. For facilitating the purpose of comparison different types of
study designs have been used such as randomised control deign, systematic review,
qualitative and quantitative study design.
In the current study, evidence based literature have been used to compare the
effective method of delivery of treatment to a 10 years old child affected with asthma
secondary to bronchitis. The chid has been admitted to the emergency ward of the hospital
and presented with the diagnosis of exacerbation of asthma. The patient has been suggested
salbutamol for the treatment which could be delivered either though a nebulizer or through a
spacer. The study here tries to compare the more effective mode of treatment for cure of the
asthma within the patient. The salbutamol is a bronchodilator which relaxes the muscles of
the airways, which leads to the lungs and improves the flow of air to and fro the lungs. The
effect of the medicine could be felt immediately within 5 minutes of inhalation. It produces
more quick effect upon inhalation as the vapours reach the lungs directly.

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EVIDENCE BASED NURSING
Literature review
The current study compares between the efficacy rates of nebulizers and metered dose
inhalers in reducing the effects of asthma within children. It had been found through various
randomised control studies that the metered dose inhalers were as effective as nebulizers for
treatment of asthma within children. It has found that administering bronchodilators by
nebulizers in emergency departments owing to the volume of the patient and restricted
oxygen ports (Khoo eat al. 2009). The metered dose inhalers with spacers have been found to
produce quick and more cost effective way of delivery of bronchodilators to the patient. It
has been seen that the young children often find it difficult to coordinate inspiration with
activation of the Metered dose inhalers. However, the spacer allows the children to inhale
medications while normal breathing through a face mask. However, there are limitations with
the particular study design as it has focused upon the mode of delivery of the drug rather than
weighting the cumulative effects produced.
The second study adopted over here focuses upon the educating the patient
population regarding the correct use of nebulizers which reduces the rate of hospital
admission. Some of the particular intervention strategies which were used over here are-
provision of home treatment for acute symptoms , home based asthma education, symptom
recognition, , provision of appropriate asthma medication and nebulizer practice. It has been
summed up from the results of the study that home based education had slight or no
considerable effects in reducing the symptoms of asthma. In this case, a randomised control
trial had been set up for comparison of the results obtained from the study.
In this respect, a quantitative study design had been employed for comparison of the
different treatment modes and their methods of delivery. In the current a sample population
of 47 children were selected who were provided with various types of spacers. The spacer
types were further divided into AC+spacer and FH spacers. The children with AC+ spacers