Pharmacists Called to Assist with Asthma Inhaler Techniques

Recent research released on World Asthma Day yesterday by the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney has revealed that while most people think they’re using their medication effectively, they are actually making multiple errors. The Institute warns that many of Australia’s two million asthmatics are damaging their health and their hip pocket as well as increasing the healthcare burden for the country’s more than $300m asthma medication budget. “That is an awful lot of people who are potentially endangering their health as well as wasting both their medication and their money,” Woolcock Institute inhaler specialist Associate Professor Sinthia Bosnic- Anticevich said.

While the cross-sectional study of 200 patients found that 73% believe their inhaler technique is ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, the study revealed that all 200 patients made two or more errors in their inhalation technique and 72% made at least five errors.

Typical mistakes were holding it inaccurately, inhaling at the wrong time, or using old, broken or empty devices and just 5% had had their inhaler technique checked by an health care professional in the last 12 months.The results are consistent with other research from the Institute demonstrating 90% of patients misusing the devices.

The Woolcock Institute is using World Asthma Day to ask pharmacists and doctors to offer a few minutes of simple inhaler technique education to each patient. “Talking about it is not enough,” Bosnic-Anticevich said. “Physical demonstrations are needed with a placebo inhaler to ensure that they really understand. “Studies have shown that improving inhaler technique can improve asthma control and reduce symptoms.”

Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Wednesday 7 May 2014