If asthma takes its toll on your wellbeing, a five-minute test with a simulator could drastically help you to manage your condition. This is according to research presented by Catherine Vitari, RN, from the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues at the American Thoracic Society meeting, who found that the simulator helped asthma patients learn how to correctly use their inhalers, which nearly doubled their chances of being in therapeutic range at the next visit.
For the study, 21 patients were trained with the simulator, while 19 were not. The results revealed that 66.6% of simulator users could demonstrate correct use of the inhaler at the second visit compared with 36.8% of the patients who did not use the simulator. According to Vitari, ‘we did observe that patients who used the simulator were more likely to be in the therapeutic range, were more likely to follow necessary steps in preparing to use inhalers, and were more likely to use multiple inhalers correctly.’
The simulator, known as the In-Check device, creates different resistances of inhalers and measures inspiratory flow. The study authors added, ‘it can be used to teach inhaler techniques specific to each inhaler and give the patients immediate feedback on their techniques.’ Vitari noted that many patients do not understand the appropriate way to inhale their medication, but correct inhaling techniques can be vital for wellness, in terms of asthma attack control.
Vitari explained, ‘If inhalation is too quick, oropharyngeal and large airway deposition is too high and peripheral lung deposition is too low. If inhalation is too slow, pulmonary deposition is low.’ However, using the $100 simulator helps patients to observe whether their inhalation technique puts them in range. Vitari said that the washable and reusable device can help doctors determine if patients need to be switched to a different device that may be easier to use and keep them in therapeutic range.
Kristen Kloepfer, MD, from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, commented, ‘I think what [Vitari] is saying in this report is correct. People really do not know how to use their inhalers. It usually takes more than one visit for them to understand.’
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