Influence of inhaler technique on asthma and COPD control: a multicenter experience

• Published in: International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2016-01, Vol.11 (1), p.2509-2517
• Main Authors: Dudvarski Ilic, Aleksandra, Zugic, Vladimir, Zvezdin, Biljana, Kopitovic, Ivan, Cekerevac, Ivan, Cupurdija, Vojislav, Perhoc, Nela, Veljkovic, Vesna, Barac, Aleksandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adherence; Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Aged; Asthma; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - physiopathology; Bronchodilator Agents - administration & dosage; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; COPD; Disease control; Drug Delivery Systems - instrumentation; Drug therapy; Dry Powder Inhalers; Education; Equipment Design; Ethics; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; inhalation technique; Inhalers; Lung - drug effects; Lung - physiopathology; Male; Methods; Middle Aged; Original Research; Patient Compliance; Patient Education as Topic; Patients; Population; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - drug therapy; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Respiratory agents; Respiratory diseases; Risk factors; Serbia; Sociodemographics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Turbuhaler
• ISSN: 1178-2005; 1176-9106; 1178-2005
• DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S114576

The successful management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mostly depends on adherence to inhalation drug therapy, the usage of which is commonly associated with many difficulties in real life. Improvement of patients' adherence to inhalation technique could lead to a better outcome in the treatment of asthma and COPD. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of inhalation technique in clinical and functional control of asthma and COPD during a 3-month follow-up. A total of 312 patients with asthma or COPD who used dry powder Turbuhaler were enrolled in this observational study. During three visits (once a month), training in seven-step inhalation technique was given and it was practically demonstrated. Correctness of patients' usage of inhaler was assessed in three visits by scoring each of the seven steps during administration of inhaler dose. Assessment of disease control was done at each visit and evaluated as: fully controlled, partially controlled, or uncontrolled. Patients' subjective perception of the simplicity of inhalation technique, disease control, and quality of life were assessed by using specially designed questionnaires. Significant improvement in inhalation technique was achieved after the third visit compared to the first one, as measured by the seven-step inhaler usage score (5.94 and 6.82, respectively;