Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
Published on: September 24, 2020
Switching from CFC to HFA Inhalers: What NPs and Their Patients Need to Know
Barbara Velsor-Friedrich1, Lisa Kinsella Militello1, Kelly K Zinn1
1Barbara Velsor-Friedrich is a professor and faculty scholar and Lisa Kinsella Militello is a pediatric nurse practitioner and project director of the TEAM Asthma Program, both at the Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly K. Zinn is an assistant professor at Nebraska Methodist College in Omaha.Darla K. DeWolff is a nurse practitioner and an assistant professor at West Suburban College of Nursing in Oak Park, Illinois.
Nurse practitioners can now better manage asthma patients transitioning to new hydrofluoralkane (HFA) inhalers. This guide covers HFA inhaler use, cost, and efficacy compared to older chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) inhalers.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) are crucial for asthma management.
- Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants in older MDIs are being phased out globally.
- Hydrofluoralkane (HFA) propellants are the current standard in MDIs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To educate nurse practitioners (NPs) on the transition from CFC to HFA MDIs.
- To detail the differences between CFC and HFA inhaler technologies.
- To provide guidance on HFA inhaler use, cost, and efficacy for asthma patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on MDI propellant changes.
- Comparative analysis of CFC and HFA MDI characteristics.
- Discussion of clinical implications for NPs and patients.
Main Results:
- HFA inhalers utilize different propellants than CFC inhalers.
- Proper technique for HFA inhaler use is essential for optimal drug delivery.
- Efficacy and cost profiles of HFA inhalers are comparable to or improved over CFC inhalers.
Conclusions:
- NPs require updated knowledge to guide patients through the MDI transition.
- Understanding HFA inhaler specifics ensures continued effective asthma management.
- The switch to HFA MDIs presents an opportunity to optimize patient care and adherence.
Related Concept Videos
Inhaled Medications
Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...

