Quality of YouTube videos for patient education on how to use asthma inhalers

Methods The website YouTube.com was queried for the search phrase “how to use asthma inhaler”. The resulting videos were assessed for duration, number of views, number of likes and dislikes, source of video, and content. Content was analyzed for proper inhaler usage. Specifically, videos were assessed whether they discussed the following 9 important steps of inhaler use: removing the cap, priming the inhaler, shaking the inhaler, breathing out before inhaler use, dispensing the medication, taking a deep/slow breath (or several breaths in the pediatric patient using a spacer), holding one’s breath (unless patient took several breaths with a spacer), waiting before taking a repeat dose, and rinsing the mouth after inhaler use.