Prevalence of serious post-training inhaler technique errors made by device-naïve patients using three different dry powder inhalers (DPIs)

Introduction: Many patients with asthma and COPD make serious inhaler technique errors, which can impair dose delivery and have an adverse impact on clinical outcomes. Aim: To compare the prevalence of serious inhaler technique errors made by patients with asthma and/or COPD after training on DPIs in real life. Methods: Single visit, prospective, randomised, crossover study. Patients ≥18 years and naive to study devices were randomised to training on PulmoJet® and comparator DPIs (Diskus® or Turbohaler®). Patients inhaled through empty devices after reading the patient information leaflet (PIL); if errors (those potentially affecting dose delivery) were observed they repeated the inhalations after video demonstration (PIL+video). Errors were recorded using nurse observed (check list) and technological (spirometry) methods. Conditional logistic regression was used to compare errors for PulmoJet vs comparator DPIs ( p Results: Of 431 patients, 421 eligible and 416 completed technological assessment. Patients were less likely to make errors using PulmoJet vs comparator devices (table). Conclusion: Device-naive patients with asthma and/or COPD were significantly less likely to make serious inhaler technique errors with PulmoJet compared with Diskus or Turbohaler after reading the patient information leaflet, both with and without additional video demonstration training.