The potential of a 2Tone Trainer to help patients use their metered-dose inhalers.
BACKGROUND
Many patients have problems using the correct inhalation technique when they use their metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). We have investigated whether a training aid (2Tone Trainer [2T]; Canday Medical Ltd; Newmarket, UK) helps to maintain the correct inhaler technique after patients leave the clinic


METHODS
Ethics committee approval was obtained, and patients gave consent. Asthmatic patients who had been prescribed an MDI had their inhalation technique assessed. Their peak inhalation flow (PIF) when using their MDI, FEV(1), and the Juniper asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ) score were measured. Those patients using the recommended MDI technique were the good-technique (GT) group. The remainder were randomized to receive verbal training (VT) or VT plus the 2T to improve their MDI technique. All patients returned 6 weeks later.


RESULTS
There were 36, 35, and 36 asthmatic patients, respectively, who completed the GT, VT, and 2T procedures. FEV1 did not change within all groups between visit 1 and 2. PIF and AQLQ score did not change in the GT group. In the VT and 2T groups, the AQLQ score increased by mean differences of 0.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14 to 0.53; p < 0.001) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.62 to 0.86; p < 0.001). At visit 1, all patients in the VT and 2T groups inhaled > 90 L/min decreasing to 12 patients and 1 patient, respectively, at visit 2 (p < 0.001 both groups). The overall changes in the 2T group for PIF and AQLQ score, between visits 1 and 2, were significantly (p < 0.001) greater than the corresponding changes in the VT group.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2T helps patients to maintain the recommended MDI technique posttraining with improvements in AQLQ score.
Al-Showair
Raid A M
RA
School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK.
Pearson
Stanley B
SB
Chrystyn
Henry
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents