Facteurs déterminants la qualité de la prise des traitements inhalés dans l’asthme

Abstract

Education of asthmatic patients and evaluation of their inhalation technique are essential for optimal care. The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of inhalation techniques used by asthmatic patients attending a medical rehabilitation center and enrolled in an educational program. We also looked for correlations between the characteristics of the patient, disease severity and type of treatment. This was a prospective study carried out in year 2000; 182 consecutive asthmatic patients were included. Inhalation technique was assessed initially and at the end of the study. For every patient, a score was established using a scale specific of each inhalation device. The inhalation technique was significantly impaired in patients using more than two different inhalation devices ( P = 0.0284). The type of inhaler used was not associated with the patient’s specific impairment. A good level of knowledge concerning asthma initially ( P = 0.0097) or at the end of the study ( P = 0.0015) and a previous visit to the medical center ( P = 0.0283) were the main factors associated with good inhalation technique. We did not find any correlation between the patient’s score on the inhalation technique and other factors, including sex, educational level, disease severity and a history of hospitalization for acute asthma. The mean score of the group for the inhalation technique improved significantly between the first and the last day of the study (from 8.58 to 9.61, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the use of multiple inhalers could confuse asthma patients. It also confirms the importance of an educational program to improve the quality of the patient’s inhalation technique.