[Rating criteria for selection of an inhaler and instructing its use in patients with asthma and COPD].

The clinical efficacy of inhaled therapy in patients with asthma and COPD is dependent on the choice of inhaler and proper use of it. The need to instruct patients in the use of the recommended inhaler seems obvious, but in clinical practice is not always followed.

AIM: The aim of the study was the comparative evaluation of the selection criteria and the method of instructing in operating the device in asthma and COPD patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 80 patients with asthma and COPD in 9 European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden. Patients (asthma / COPD) - 10 from each country - aged 18-65 years were diagnosed by a physician for asthma (2/3 patients) and COPD (1/3 patients) at least one year ago. The study involved using Symbicort Turbuhaler (8 patients in each country) or Seretide Accuhaler (2 in each country, 3 patients in the Netherlands). Evaluated the criteria for selecting the inhaler and the time and place of transfer of information technology inhalation.

RESULTS: It has been shown that the main criterion for choosing an inhaler by a doctor was the construction of an inhaler and size of particles generated by it. More than 1/3 of the patients did not receive information about how to use the inhaler. In turn, granted briefing in most lasts less than 5 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS: In the selection of the inhaler taken into account in the construction and the ability to generate particles of the expected size. Informing patients about how to use the inhaler it is considered marginal in most of the resorts in Europe.