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A Review of Electronic Devices to Assess Inhaler Technique

  • Allergies and the Environment (M Hernandez, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Multiple electronic devices exist that provide feedback on the accuracy of patient inhaler technique. Our purpose is to describe the inhaler technique feedback provided by these devices, including specific technique steps measured, how feedback is displayed, target of feedback (patient, provider, researcher), and compatibility with inhaler type (metered-dose inhaler [MDI], diskus, etc.).

Recent Findings

We identified eight devices that provide feedback on inhaler technique. Only one device assessed all evidence-based MDI technique steps. Most devices provide limited real-time feedback to patients, if any feedback at all.

Summary

Technologies to assess inhaler technique are advancing and hold great potential for improving patient inhaler technique. Many devices are limited in their ability to detect all evidence-based technique steps and provide real-time user-friendly feedback to patients and providers. Usability tests with patients and providers could identify ways to improve these devices to improve their utility in clinical settings.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported in part from the PharmAlliance, a three-way partnership between the schools of pharmacy at UNC, UCL, and Monash.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, CPO 2125, Asheville, NC, 28804, USA

    Delesha M. Carpenter

  2. Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Courtney A. Roberts & Adam J. Sage

  3. Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Johnson George

  4. School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK

    Robert Horne

Authors
  1. Delesha M. Carpenter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Delesha M. Carpenter.

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Conflict of Interest

Mr. Sage Ms. Roberts, and Dr. Carpenter declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

Dr. George has received in-kind support from Vitalograph in the form of devices (COPD-6; ASMA-1; AIM) for pilot testing.

Dr. Horne was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) North Thames at Bart’s Health NHS Trust; has undertaken speaker engagements with honoraria with the following companies: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen Idec, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Shire Pharmaceuticals, MSD, Astellas, Astrazeneca, DRSU, Erasmus, and Novartis; and is founder and shareholder of a UCL business spin out company (Spoonful of Sugar) providing consultancy on medication-related behaviors to healthcare policy makers, providers, and industry.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Allergies and the Environment

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Carpenter, D.M., Roberts, C.A., Sage, A.J. et al. A Review of Electronic Devices to Assess Inhaler Technique. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 17, 17 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-017-0684-3

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