[Assessment of the inhalation technique using diskhaler in adult patients with asthma]

This study evaluated the proper use of Diskhaler in 104 adult outpatients with asthma. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether age, gender, the experience with metered dose inhaler (MDI), and the disease period were predictive of incorrect use of the Diskhaler. Frequencies of correct performance of "all actions" (10 items) and "all essential actions" (2 items) were 47% and 69% of patients respectively. The most frequent errors were "not holding breath for five seconds" (37%) and "not inhaling forcefully and deeply" (31%). Relative risks of incorrect inhaler use were as follows: age 1.000, female gender 1.341, no experience with MDI 1.707, and disease period 0.991, all of which were statistically insignificant. We should instruct patients especially to breathe in forcefully and deeply, and to hold breath for five seconds.