title: Genuair® Usability Test: Results of a National Public Survey of the Elderly.
abstract: Proper use of inhaler devices may be problematic in elderly patients due to age-related difficulties. A survey was administered to elderly patients to investigate the usability of the Genuair® device and patients' subjective viewpoint on the device. A representative sample of the Italian population aged ≥ 65 years was completed with a pre-defined sample of 89 patients with hand arthritis/arthrosis. Of 526 respondents, 88 were not self-sufficient. Only the replies of the 438 self-sufficient respondents were analyzed. A total of 107 participants (24%) reported having respiratory diseases, and 81 of these (76%) were users of inhaler devices. After the first test, the device was considered "practical/handy" by 90% of patients and "easy to use" by 89%. After the second test, in which patients received a demonstration of the correct inhalation maneuver, the percentage of patients scoring ≥ 7 increased to 93% for the first characteristic and was confirmed for the second, with no differences between the groups in terms of age, educational level, use of devices, and presence of arthritis/arthrosis. The mean time to explain the inhaler technique and to perform a correct inhalation was 1'38"± 1'37", and 70% of the respondents required less than 2 minutes, with no differences between the groups in terms of age, education level, use of devices, and presence of arthritis/arthrosis. In conclusion, Genuair® was well accepted and easy to use in a representative sample of the Italian population aged ≥ 65 years. These characteristics make it a valid choice in the elderly, thus enabling patients to better cope with the problems and difficulties that are common to this age group.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation , Università degli Studi di Milano, IRCCS Fondazione Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.affiliation: b Respiratory and Allergy Diseases Clinic, DIMI , University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio Walter
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica
authors.affiliation: c Respiratory Unit, San Paolo Hospital, Dpt Scienze della Salute , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Centanni
authors.affiliation: d Pulmonology Department , Santa Corona Hospital , Pietra Ligure , Savona , Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mereu
authors.affiliation: e Department of Gerontology, Neuroscience and Orthopedics , Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernabei
authors.affiliation: f Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Geriatric Sciences , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolisso
authors.affiliation: g Department of Geriatrics , University Campus Bio-Medico , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele Antonelli
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Incalzi
authors.affiliation: h Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo , Università di Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corsico
authors.affiliation: c Respiratory Unit, San Paolo Hospital, Dpt Scienze della Salute , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Marco
authors.affiliation: d Pulmonology Department , Santa Corona Hospital , Pietra Ligure , Savona , Italy.
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milanese
authors.affiliation: e Department of Gerontology, Neuroscience and Orthopedics , Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.affiliation: i Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute , Pneumologia Riabilitativa Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Istituto Scientifico di Milano-IRCCSUniversità degli Studi di Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Pierachille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santus
authors.affiliation: j Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonology (DIBIMIS) , University of Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scichilone
authors.affiliation: k Managing Director, Doxa Marketing Advice , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sumberesi
authors.affiliation: b Respiratory and Allergy Diseases Clinic, DIMI , University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Braido
authors.affiliation: b Respiratory and Allergy Diseases Clinic, DIMI , University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baiardini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: adherence; elderly; inhaler device; usability