Evaluating inhaler use technique in COPD patients

• Published in: International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2015-01, Vol.10 (Issue 1), p.1291-1298
• Main Authors: Pothirat, Chaicharn, Chaiwong, Warawut, Phetsuk, Nittaya, Pisalthanapuna, Sangnual, Chetsadaphan, Nonglak, Choomuang, Woranoot
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Chi-Square Distribution; Chronic obstructive lung disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug dosages; Drug therapy; Dyspnea; Education; Educational Status; Enrollments; Equipment Design; Evaluation; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Inhalation Spacers; Inhalers; Logistic Models; Lung - drug effects; Lung - physiopathology; Lung diseases; Male; Medical research; Metered Dose Inhalers; Methods; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Original Research; Patient Compliance; Patient Education as Topic; Patients; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - drug therapy; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Respiratory System Agents - administration & dosage; Risk Factors; Spirometry; Task Performance and Analysis
• ISSN: 1178-2005; 1176-9106; 1178-2005
• DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S85681

Poor inhalation techniques are associated with decreased medication delivery and poor disease control in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate techniques for using inhaler devices in COPD patients. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted to assess patient compliance with correct techniques for using inhaler devices across four regimens, ie, the pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI), the pMDI with a spacer, the Accuhaler, and the Handihaler. The percentage of compliance with essential steps of correct device usage for each regimen was recorded without prior notification when COPD patients presented for a routine visit, and 1 month after receiving face-to-face training. We compared the percentage of compliance between the devices and risk factors related to incorrect techniques using logistic regression analysis. Percentage of patient compliance with correct techniques was compared between the two visits using the chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at P