Are you a hospital-based respiratory nurse? re: Respiratory Medications

Hi,

I'm a clinical epidemiologist wrangling with a methodology question
and would benefit from the eopinions/ experience of some respiratory
nurses out there.

In patients hospitalised with COPD who are prescribed bronchodilator
medications.... Do they leave the hospital with the unused portions of
their new meds in hand or is their only access to a bronchodilator
their discharge prescription which needs to be filled upon their first
day out of hospital?

One hospital source mentioned to me that since any returned canisters
would be thrown out by the hospital upon a patients discharge, the
nursing staff might encourage a patient to take the canister/MDI with
them to finish before filling their Rx.

Is this a practice which you see at your hospital?

If you'd like to answer me privately my email address is:

machelle (dot) wilchesky @ mail
(dot) mcgill (dot) ca

thanks in advance!