title: Using videos to teach children inhaler technique: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This primary objective of this pilot randomized, controlled trial was to determine whether a brief video intervention delivered after a pediatric office visit could improve inhaler technique in children with asthma immediately and one month later. The intervention's effect on children's inhaler self-efficacy and asthma control was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (n=91) ages 7-17 years with persistent asthma were recruited at two pediatric practices in North Carolina. Eligible children demonstrated their inhaler technique for metered dose inhalers (MDIs) either with or without a spacer. A trained research assistant used a validated inhaler technique checklist to record which steps children performed correctly. After a regularly scheduled office visit, children were randomized to watch either a 3-min MDI video (intervention group) or a nutrition video (control group) in English or Spanish. Children's technique was assessed again after watching the video and one month later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children were primarily male (56%) and non-White (60%). When compared with the control group, children in the intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in MDI technique post-intervention [mean=1.12 steps, 95% CI (0.73, 1.50)] but the improvement was not sustained at 1-month follow-up. The intervention did not lead to significant improvements in inhaler self-efficacy or asthma control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A brief video intervention offered during pediatric clinic visits can lead to immediate improvements in children's inhaler technique. Future studies should evaluate whether booster training videos can help maintain improvements in children's inhaler technique over time.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill, NC , USA .
authors.forename: Delesha M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Blalock
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reuland
authors.forename: Tamera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coyne-Beasley
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mooneyham
authors.forename: Ceila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loughlin
authors.forename: Lorie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Geryk
authors.forename: Betsy L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Sleath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Asthma control; children; metered dose inhaler; self-efficacy; videos