Inhaler Misuse in COPD Patients: An 8-question Quiz

Inhaled medication is the foundation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment and therapeutic success depends on proper inhalation technique. Clinical studies have found, however, that approximately 94% of patients mishandle their inhalation devices (IDs), placing them at increased risk for COPD exacerbations. What factors impact a patient’s ability to correctly use an ID?

Authors of a recent study examined the inhalation technique of 300 stable COPD patients aged >40 years who performed 521 inhalation maneuvers with 10 different IDs. They assessed whether accurate inhalation technique is associated with a variety of factors, including the number of IDs used, patient demographics and clinical and functional characteristics, and patient beliefs about IDs. What did the study find?

Click through the 8 questions below to find out.