32% of caregivers describe inappropriate home use of albuterol for asthma exacerbations

To reduce symptoms and emergency department (ED) visits, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines recommend early treatment of acute asthma symptoms with albuterol and oral corticosteroids.

A total of 114 caregivers of low-income, urban children completed a 20-minute telephone interview with an asthma nurse to evaluate home management of their child's acute asthma symptoms.

Albuterol use for worsening asthma symptoms was appropriate for only 68% of caregivers and was more likely if the children had an ED visit or hospitalization for asthma in the prior year.

The remaining 32% of caregivers used albuterol inappropriately (overtreatment or undertreatment).

Appropriate albuterol use was not associated with caregiver report of having an asthma action plan (AAP) or a recent primary care physician visit to discuss asthma maintenance care.


Dr. House tries his best: "Are you using your inhaler right?" - "Do I look like an idiot?!"


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

References:

Videos: How to use your asthma inhalers
Video: How to Use Asthma Devices -- Inhalers, Spacers, Peak Flow Meters
Home use of albuterol for asthma exacerbations. Garbutt JM, Freiner D, Highstein GR, Nelson KA, Smith SR, Strunk RC. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009 Jun;102(6):504-9.
Spacers should not be regarded as interchangeable: each pMDI–spacer combination should be treated as a unique system (ERJ, 2012).

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