Abstract
Technical instruction on how to use a MDI for asthma children patients is usually given by doctors. Our hospital pharmacists have also given this instruction since 1994. A survey on whether the dose instruction is actually practiced was conducted on 37 long-term outpatients with bronchial asthma at our children allergy section (average age 10.6±4.5: mean±SD) through inquiries either by interview or by mail.
Of the respondents, 54.1% actively practiced inhalation, while 78.4% answered they forgot to inhale (including those who occasionally forgot). They tended to forget during the daytime, but 60-80% practiced “shaking the cylinder” before inhalation and “breath holding” and “gargling” after inhalation as encouraged in the instructions. The percentage of respondents who understand the reason for each procedure was 30-50%. The percentage utilizing the spacer with MDI was 70.3% and the percentage who carried the spacers was 42.3%.
This survey revealed the necessity of tactful motivation of the patients to ensure compliance from them and their families. To attain this goal it is important to encourage patients to use the easy-to-use, portable spacers and to understand the reason for each procedure.
