Inhaler preferences and satisfaction of asthma and COPD patients

Background: Poor inhaler technique and adherence are common problems in respiratory health care. According to GINA and GOLD patients preferences need to be taken into account when choosing the inhaler.

Aim: We evaluated patients preferences and satisfaction regarding inhaler devices.

Method: An online self-developed questionnaire was sent to 724 patients with asthma or COPD. The questions addressed current inhaler satisfaction and the most important inhaler characteristics. The relation between preferences and satisfaction was compared with symptoms (measured with the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) and the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ)). We compared satisfaction with gender, confidence of inhaler technique, duration of use and experienced effect of the inhaled medication.

Results: 452 (62%) participants completed the survey (64% female, 74% between 50 and 75 years, 50% asthma, 45% COPD, 5% overlap syndrome). Participants were satisfied with their inhaler device (average mark: 7±2, range 1: very poor to 10: excellent). Lower satisfaction was found in patients using single dose inhalers. There was no correlation between inhaler satisfaction and symptoms. According to our participants it is important that an inhaler device is easy and quick to use, easy to carry, contains a dose counter and has a feedback mechanism. Male gender was associated with higher satisfaction, greater confidence of the inhaler use, longer duration of the inhaler use and greater satisfaction about the experienced inhaler efficiency.

Discussion: There is individual variation regarding the perfect inhaler device, which stresses the need for individualized inhaler choices wherein patients’ preferences are involved.