Metered Dose Inhaler Technique: A Priority Catch for Physicians

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2020 Nov 12

PMID 33178510

Citations 2

Authors

Muhammad Ahmed

Muqadas Munir

Ali Sufyan

Jahanzeb Ayyaz

Imran Arshad Sr

Mujtaba Bukhari

Muhammad Umar

Muhammad Khurram

Ahsan Tariq

Muhammad Hamza

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a non-curable but preventable disease that can be controlled by a proper approach. Inhalational route is considered to be one of the fastest, non-invasive course for the management of asthma. Despite its importance, compliance towards proper inhalational technique remains quite low. Thus, United Kingdom guidelines and Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention (GINA) recommend regular assessment of inhaler techniques in all asthma patients.

Objective: To evaluate the inhalational technique of asthma patients visiting out-patient departments of public sector tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi and correlate with various demographic factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 209 respondents visiting the outpatient department of public sector hospitals in Rawalpindi. Asthmatic patients were included via a non-probability consecutive sampling technique and were assessed for inhaler techniques via a structured checklist. Statistical data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®), version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

Results: Two hundred and nine asthma patients were included. Only 10% of patients demonstrated the correct inhaler technique. Continuing inhaling till lungs are full, holding breath for five to 10 seconds, and breathing out slowly after using the inhaler were most poorly followed.

Conclusion: Most asthma patients are using poor inhalation technique, risking sub-optimal drug delivery and inadequate effects. Hence, it is the need of the hour to focus on patient training and education.

Citing Articles

Can Pharmacists' Counseling Improve the Use of Inhalers and Quality of Life? A Prospective "Pre" and "Post" Education Analysis in Mardan, Pakistan.

Gul S, Rehman I, Goh K, Ali Z, Rahman A, Khalil A J Asthma Allergy. 2023; 16:679-687.

PMID: 37435420 PMC: 10332412. DOI: 10.2147/JAA.S405943.

Study on the Relationship Between Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Cell Count, Th1/Th2 Cytokines and Pulmonary Function in Patients with Cough Variant Asthma.

Chen J, Lin W, Gu H, Ying K, Li T, Shao H J Asthma Allergy. 2022; 15:1713-1720.

PMID: 36452937 PMC: 9704013. DOI: 10.2147/JAA.S383128.

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