The Journal of Society Medicine (JSOCMED)
Vol. 5 No. 7 (2026): July

The Benefit of Application-Based Education Using the Healthy Lungs Version 2.0 on Inhaler Adherence Among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at RS Prof. Dr. Chairuddin P. Lubis

Muhammad Pany Al-A’raf (Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sumatera Utara, Jl. Dr Mansyur No.5 Medan 20155, Indonesia)
Amira Permata Sari Tarigan (Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sumatera Utara, Jl. Dr Mansyur No.5 Medan 20155, Indonesia)
Andika Pradana (Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sumatera Utara, Jl. Dr Mansyur No.5 Medan 20155, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Inhalation therapy is central to management; however, suboptimal adherence and incorrect inhaler technique contribute to poor disease control and recurrent exacerbations. Application-based education provides continuous, standardized, accessible instruction that may improve adherence to inhaler therapy. The Healthy Lungs application 2.0 was developed in the Philippines for COPD patients to evaluate its educational effectiveness on inhaler adherence at RS Prof. Dr. Chairuddin P. Lubis, University of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Methods: An analytical study with a case–control approach enrolled 50 patients with COPD selected by consecutive sampling. Inhaler adherence was assessed with a structured questionnaire before and after the application-based intervention. Normality was examined with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, and pre- versus post-intervention adherence was compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The respondents were predominantly elderly (43%) and male (58%). Before the intervention, low adherence predominated (50%); afterwards, the proportion with high adherence rose to 42%, with most respondents improving and few declining. The Wilcoxon test demonstrated a significant difference in adherence before and after the intervention (Z = –3.196; p = 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.05). Conclusion: Education delivered through the Healthy Lungs app significantly improved inhaler adherence among patients with COPD, supporting its use as an adjunct to conventional inhaler counseling.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

go

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Immunology & microbiology Medicine & Pharmacology Neuroscience

Description

The Journal of Society Medicine (JSOCMED) | ISSN (e): 2964-5565 is a leading voice in the Indonesia and internationally for medicine and healthcare. Published continuously, JSOCMED features scholarly comment and clinical research. JSOCMED is editorially independent from and its The Editor-in-Chief ...