Recently, based on the knowledge that operability of the dosing device is closely related to patient compliance, a beclomethasone dipropionate dry powder inhaler (BDP-DPI) in a multi-dose device has been developed for allergic rhinitis. In the present study, we conducted a questionnaire survey at 45 hospitals in Hiroshima prefecture (targeting 62 otolaryngologists and 48 pharmacists) to evaluate the operability and usefulness of the newly developed BDP-DPI in a multi-dose device.
More than half of otolaryngologists had never prescribed a BDP-DPI in a single-dose device giving the difficulty of using it as the most important reason. Both otolaryngologists and pharmacists showed a preference for the multi-dose device in the aspects of simplicity of use, clear explanatory leaflet for patients, usefulness, comprehensive evaluation and necessity. Further, otolaryngologists rated the simplicity of use of the multi-dose device over the single-dose device and conventional liquid inhalers differently from the pharmacists indicating a difference in understanding of medication adherence between otolaryngologists and pharmacists.
These results indicate that in addition to being a useful alternative to conventional inhalers, the BDP-DPI in a multi-dose device also raises medication adherence among patients for allergic rhinitis. When giving instructions on the device to patients, however, pharmacists should be aware of the fact that some patients may have difficulties in understanding.
