BACKGROUND An Adequate and an effective dose of inhalation drugs can be administered only if the correct inhaler-specific technique is followed by asthma patients. There is paucity of data on this subject among Nigerians and Africans. AIMS This observational study was to assess the inhaler techniques among asthma patients in Nigeria and also to identify the factors related to an inaccurate or...

We describe, for the first time, the use of a mobile device platform for remote direct observation of inhaler use and technique. The research programme commenced with a rapid systematic review of mobile device (or videophone) use for direct observation of therapy (MDOT). Ten studies (mainly pilots) were identified involving patients with tuberculosis, sickle cell disease and Alzheimer's disease...

Methods We designed a device with a high fidelity microphone and small sized acoustic storage to make time stamped acoustic recordings of an individual’s use of an inhaler. We related the acoustic features to the various steps involved in the correct use of an inhaler. We established a minimum acoustic profile required to use the inhaler correctly, thereby objectively quantifying technique. A c...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the type of inhaled medication, length of use, dosing, the inhaler use technique and the severity and duration of disease on the dental caries of asthmatic patients. OBJECTIVES In the present study, the frequency of dental caries in the asthmatic patients and control group was examined. In addition the possible assoc...

AIMS To see if elderly people can use the breath-activated (Easi-breathe) and dry powder (Turbohaler) inhalers as effectively as the metered-dose inhaler and Volumatic system. METHODS 102 inhaler-naive patients (aged 75-101, mean 84 years), without cognitive impairment, were randomly allocated one of Easi-breathe, Turbohaler or metered-dose inhaler and Volumatic placebo inhalers. Standardized...

Appropriate use of inhalers requires a number of steps to be performed correctly to ensure adequate medication delivery and to minimize side effects. Currently, with the advancements in asthma treatment, there is a wide variety of new inhaler devices, which are intended to improve drug administration. However, a recent literature review has shown that misuse of inhaler devices is frequent in pr...

This study investigated the influence of the use of different types of inhalers on the adequacy of inhalation technique among adult asthmatics. Three hypotheses were tested: first, patients using only one type of inhaler will demonstrate adequate inhalation technique more often than those with two or more types. Secondly, patients using a combination of dry powder inhalers (DPIs) will demonstra...

Poor inhaler technique hampers the efficacy of drug therapy in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Not only does this affect individual patient care, but it also impacts on the wider health care economics associated with these conditions. Treatment guidelines recommend a systematic approach to drug class selection; however, standardization of inhaler selection is currently difficu...

BACKGROUND Serious inhaler technique errors can impair drug delivery to the lungs. This randomised, crossover, open-label study evaluated the proportion of patients making predefined serious errors with Pulmojet compared with Diskus and Turbohaler dry powder inhalers. METHODS Patients ≥18 years old with asthma and/or COPD who were current users of an inhaler but naïve to the study devices wer...