title: [Assessment of knowledge in the use of metered dose inhalers in parents of asthmatic school children].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of metered dose inhaler (MDI) is key in the treatment of asthma; its effectiveness is related to proper technique.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of the technique of metered dose inhalers for the parents or guardians of school children with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, we used a sample of 221 individual caregivers (parent or guardian) of asthmatic children from 5 to 12 years old, who use MDI. We designed a validated questionnaire consisting of 27 items which addressed the handling of inhaler technique. Descriptive statistics was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers were rated as "good technique" in 41 fathers (18.6%), 77 mothers (34.8%) and 9 tutors (4.1%), and with a "regular technique" 32 fathers (14.5%), 48 mothers (21.2%) and 14 guardians (6.3%). Asthmatic children aged 9 were rated as with "good technique" in 24 (10.9%). According to gender, we found a "good technique" in 80 boys (36.2%) and 47 girls (21.3%) and with a "regular technique" in 59 boys (26.7%) and 35 girls (15.8%), P 0.0973, RP 0.9. We found with a "regular technique" mainly those asthmatic children diagnosed at ages between 1 to 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the participants had a good technical qualification; however major mistakes were made at key points in the performance of it.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Veracruzana, campus Ciudad Mendoza, Orizaba, Ver, MÈxico. pakco_nameless@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Dulce María
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Aquino-Pérez
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peña-Cadena
authors.forename: José Ubaldo
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Trujillo-García
authors.forename: Jaime Omar
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Sandoval
authors.forename: Olga Stephanie
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Machorro-Muñoz
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D010290:Parents