MDIs, Spacers, and Dry Powder Inhalers: The Most Common Mistakes Patients Make

Spacers should not be regarded as interchangeable: each pMDI–spacer combination should be treated as a unique system (ERJ, 2012).

Consultant Live has a detailed review about MDIs, Spacers, and Dry Powder Inhalers: What Patients Are Likely to Do Wrong.

In some studies, as many as 89% of asthma patients used MDIs incorrectly. For example, in a 2011 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, hospitalized adult patients with asthma or COPD misused MDIs 9 out of 10 times, and Diskus inhalers 7 out of 10 times. In other words, Misuse of Respiratory Inhalers in Hospitalized Patients with Asthma or COPD was 86% for MDI, 71% for Diskus.
Breath activated dry powder inhalers eliminate one of the most common problems in using MDIs: the timing mismatch.
Lower-resistance devices (Diskus) are approved for use in children as young as 4 years. Turbuhaler is for older children. Younger children often cannot generate enough pressure to activate Turbuhaler/Flexihaler.
Fluticasone plasma concentrations are significantly greater after MDI compared with DPI http://bit.ly/g9DAC


Asthma video: "Are you using your inhaler right?" - "Do I look like an idiot?!"


The correct way to use your metered dose inhaler (MDI).

References:
MDIs, Spacers, and Dry Powder Inhalers: What Patients Are Likely to Do Wrong. Consultant Live.Videos: How to use your asthma inhalers
Video: How to Use Asthma Devices -- Inhalers, Spacers, Peak Flow Meters

Proper techniques for the administration of inhaled medications to treat asthma - AAAAI - Ask the Expert, 2011.

Misuse of Respiratory Inhalers in Hospitalized Patients with Asthma or COPD: 86% for MDI, 71% for Diskus http://goo.gl/nukcn

Hospitalized adult patients with asthma or COPD misused MDIs 9 out of 10 times, and Diskus inhalers 7 out of 10 times http://goo.gl/5KLH2