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Assessment of inhalation technique in children in general practice: increased risk of incorrect performance with new

Wanda Hagmolen of ten Have1, Norbert J van de Berg, Patrick J E Bindels

  • 1Medical Spectrum Twente, Department of Pulmonology, Enschede, The Netherlands. wandahoth@hotmail.com

The Journal of Asthma : Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
|February 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Most children (76%) correctly use asthma inhalers, but technique varies by device. Pressurized metered-dose inhalers without spacers are challenging for pediatric asthma patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • General Practice

Background:

  • Proper inhaler technique is crucial for effective asthma management in children.
  • Previous studies indicate variability in inhaler use among pediatric populations.
  • General practices serve as a key setting for asthma care and medication delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the correct inhalation technique in a pediatric population using various asthma inhaler devices.
  • To identify specific inhaler types associated with higher error rates in children.
  • To evaluate the impact of device changes on inhaler technique over time.

Main Methods:

  • A general practice-based study involving 530 children using asthma medication.
  • Assessment of inhaler technique, including identification of essential errors.
  • Follow-up evaluation of inhaler technique one year after the initial assessment, comparing new versus unchanged devices.

Main Results:

  • Overall, 76% of children demonstrated correct inhaler inhalation technique.
  • Children using a pressurized metered-dose inhaler without a spacer device exhibited the lowest correct inhalation rates (22%).
  • Incorrect inhaler technique was more frequent with new devices (21.1%) compared to unchanged devices (10.8%) at follow-up (p=0.01).

Conclusions:

  • While a majority of children use asthma inhalers correctly, significant device-specific differences exist.
  • Pressurized metered-dose inhalers without spacers pose a challenge for pediatric users.
  • Switching inhaler devices requires careful monitoring, as new devices were associated with increased errors in this pediatric cohort.

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