Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma – a multicenter study

Laura Adela Munteanu,1 Ariadna Petronela Fildan,2 Emanuela Tudorache,1 Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu,1 Mirela Frandes,3 Bogdan Timar,3 Cristian Oancea,1 Doina Ecaterina Tofolean21Department of Pulmonology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2Faculty...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Munteanu LA, Fildan AP, Tudorache E, Fira-Mladinescu O, Frandes M, Timar B, Oancea C, Tofolean DE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2019-08-01
Series:Patient Preference and Adherence
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/inhaler-technique-errors-in-romanian-patients-with-asthma-a-multicente-peer-reviewed-article-PPA
_version_ 1811291607087972352
author Munteanu LA
Fildan AP
Tudorache E
Fira-Mladinescu O
Frandes M
Timar B
Oancea C
Tofolean DE
author_facet Munteanu LA
Fildan AP
Tudorache E
Fira-Mladinescu O
Frandes M
Timar B
Oancea C
Tofolean DE
author_sort Munteanu LA
collection DOAJ
description Laura Adela Munteanu,1 Ariadna Petronela Fildan,2 Emanuela Tudorache,1 Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu,1 Mirela Frandes,3 Bogdan Timar,3 Cristian Oancea,1 Doina Ecaterina Tofolean21Department of Pulmonology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2Faculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine Discipline, Medical Clinical Disciplines I, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania; 3Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, RomaniaCorrespondence: Ariadna Petronela FildanFaculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine Discipline, Medical Clinical Disciplines I, “Ovidius” University of Constanta. Aleea Universitatii nr.1, Constanta 900470, RomaniaTel +40 74 115 7526Email ariadnafildan@gmail.comBackground: Non-adherence to treatment is associated with poor asthma control, increased exacerbations, decline in lung function, and decreased quality of life. M-health applications have become increasingly in the last years, but little research regarding the efficiency of the instructional videos for correct inhaler use exist. The aim of this study is to assess and improve the inhalator technique and to establish which types of errors were made more often with the help of a mobile health application.Materials and methods: Seventy-five patients with partially controlled or uncontrolled asthma, using any of turbuhaler, diskus, pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) or soft mist inhaler (SMI), were included in the study. When they first entered the study, the patient’s inhaler technique was assessed by a trained medical professional and the technique errors were categorized in handling, respectively inhalation errors. After the first evaluation, the patients downloaded an application on their Smartphone and were encouraged to use the application as much as needed to remind them the correct inhalation technique. The patients were re-called every three months for evaluation, treatment, and assessment of inhalation technique.Results: We analyzed both handling and inhalation errors for each of the four considered inhalers. We observed a significantly reduced number of inhalation technique errors after using the mobile phone application. Turbuhaler median errors were 6.00, and after six months we did not observe errors. Diskus median error was 6.00, and after six months we observed a maximum of one error. pMDI median errors were 7.00, and after six months we observed just one error. Similarly, SMI median error was 7.00, and after six months we observed just one error.Conclusion: Although technique inhalation errors are very common among asthma patients, video instructions provided through specific mobile phone applications could improve the inhaler technique in order to achieve a better control of the disease.Keywords: inhaler device, mobile phone application, adherence
first_indexed 2024-04-13T04:32:55Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0dcce338059b4f62859cc93148b06e2d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1177-889X
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T04:32:55Z
publishDate 2019-08-01
publisher Dove Medical Press
record_format Article
series Patient Preference and Adherence
spelling doaj.art-0dcce338059b4f62859cc93148b06e2d2022-12-22T03:02:16ZengDove Medical PressPatient Preference and Adherence1177-889X2019-08-01Volume 131401141447942Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma – a multicenter studyMunteanu LAFildan APTudorache EFira-Mladinescu OFrandes MTimar BOancea CTofolean DELaura Adela Munteanu,1 Ariadna Petronela Fildan,2 Emanuela Tudorache,1 Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu,1 Mirela Frandes,3 Bogdan Timar,3 Cristian Oancea,1 Doina Ecaterina Tofolean21Department of Pulmonology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2Faculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine Discipline, Medical Clinical Disciplines I, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania; 3Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, RomaniaCorrespondence: Ariadna Petronela FildanFaculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine Discipline, Medical Clinical Disciplines I, “Ovidius” University of Constanta. Aleea Universitatii nr.1, Constanta 900470, RomaniaTel +40 74 115 7526Email ariadnafildan@gmail.comBackground: Non-adherence to treatment is associated with poor asthma control, increased exacerbations, decline in lung function, and decreased quality of life. M-health applications have become increasingly in the last years, but little research regarding the efficiency of the instructional videos for correct inhaler use exist. The aim of this study is to assess and improve the inhalator technique and to establish which types of errors were made more often with the help of a mobile health application.Materials and methods: Seventy-five patients with partially controlled or uncontrolled asthma, using any of turbuhaler, diskus, pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) or soft mist inhaler (SMI), were included in the study. When they first entered the study, the patient’s inhaler technique was assessed by a trained medical professional and the technique errors were categorized in handling, respectively inhalation errors. After the first evaluation, the patients downloaded an application on their Smartphone and were encouraged to use the application as much as needed to remind them the correct inhalation technique. The patients were re-called every three months for evaluation, treatment, and assessment of inhalation technique.Results: We analyzed both handling and inhalation errors for each of the four considered inhalers. We observed a significantly reduced number of inhalation technique errors after using the mobile phone application. Turbuhaler median errors were 6.00, and after six months we did not observe errors. Diskus median error was 6.00, and after six months we observed a maximum of one error. pMDI median errors were 7.00, and after six months we observed just one error. Similarly, SMI median error was 7.00, and after six months we observed just one error.Conclusion: Although technique inhalation errors are very common among asthma patients, video instructions provided through specific mobile phone applications could improve the inhaler technique in order to achieve a better control of the disease.Keywords: inhaler device, mobile phone application, adherencehttps://www.dovepress.com/inhaler-technique-errors-in-romanian-patients-with-asthma-a-multicente-peer-reviewed-article-PPAinhaler devicemobile phone applicationadherence
spellingShingle Munteanu LA
Fildan AP
Tudorache E
Fira-Mladinescu O
Frandes M
Timar B
Oancea C
Tofolean DE
Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma – a multicenter study
Patient Preference and Adherence
inhaler device
mobile phone application
adherence
title Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma – a multicenter study
title_full Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma – a multicenter study
title_fullStr Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma – a multicenter study
title_full_unstemmed Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma – a multicenter study
title_short Inhaler technique errors in Romanian patients with asthma – a multicenter study
title_sort inhaler technique errors in romanian patients with asthma ndash a multicenter study
topic inhaler device
mobile phone application
adherence
url https://www.dovepress.com/inhaler-technique-errors-in-romanian-patients-with-asthma-a-multicente-peer-reviewed-article-PPA
work_keys_str_mv AT munteanula inhalertechniqueerrorsinromanianpatientswithasthmandashamulticenterstudy
AT fildanap inhalertechniqueerrorsinromanianpatientswithasthmandashamulticenterstudy
AT tudorachee inhalertechniqueerrorsinromanianpatientswithasthmandashamulticenterstudy
AT firamladinescuo inhalertechniqueerrorsinromanianpatientswithasthmandashamulticenterstudy
AT frandesm inhalertechniqueerrorsinromanianpatientswithasthmandashamulticenterstudy
AT timarb inhalertechniqueerrorsinromanianpatientswithasthmandashamulticenterstudy
AT oanceac inhalertechniqueerrorsinromanianpatientswithasthmandashamulticenterstudy
AT tofoleande inhalertechniqueerrorsinromanianpatientswithasthmandashamulticenterstudy