LAUSR

The mainstay of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) treatment is by inhalational medication(s). Delivery of drugs directly into the airways, achieving higher local concentrations with significantly less risk of systemic side effects are the major advantages of the therapy.1 The delivery of inhaled medication in the airway tract is dictated by a complex interaction between the device, the aerosol formulation and patients’ inhalation technique.2 The correct use of an inhaler device involves a series of steps, which need to be performed. Failing to perform one or more steps correctly can substantially reduce delivery and effectiveness, leading to poor disease control.1 Previous studies have reported that up to 94% of the patients used incorrect method of inhalation of the medication.3–5 The factors associated with poor inhalational technique include age,6,7 sex,8 education level6 and severity of obstruction.6 Improvement of patient’s inhalation technique could be attained by educating the patients about proper use of device being used. Poor inhalation techniques are associated with decreased medication delivery and poor disease control in chronic lung diseases. The data in regards to the proportion of patients correctly using inhalation devices and the effect of patient education is currently lacking in Nepalese population. This study hence intended to analyse the prevalence of patients using inhalation devices via incorrect technique and access the adherence of patients to correct inhalation technique when taught along with their subjective improvement of symptoms.