Mohamed E.A. Abdelrahim1, Marwa Mohsen1, Basma M.E. Mohamed1, Omar Ahmed Sayed1, & Ahmed H.M. Sobh2
1Clinical Pharmacy department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-suef University, Beni-suef, Egypt
2Clinical Pharmacy department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mashreq, Baghdad, Iraq
Summary
Lack of patient education about proper use of spacers in conjunction with pMDIs has potentially affecting asthma management outcomes and reducing disease control, especially in exacerbations. Herein, we studied the impact of counseling regarding the proper use of a cardboard spacer compared to a commercial plastic one, and vs. pMDI alone. Evaluating the error rate associated with the use of each device may indicate the device’s simplicity, user-friendliness, and promising efficiency in aerosol drug delivery in asthma patients. In addition, comparing the three devices regarding their effects on lung functions and asthma control was also investigated to explore the in-vivo part. Findings revealed a significantly lower error rate in inhalation technique with pMDI with either cardboard-based spacer (MDI PLUS®) or the commercial plastic one (AeroChamber2go) from the first clinical visit compared to pMDI alone; however, the improvement with pMDI alone occurs from the second visit. In addition, more pronounced and consistent improvements were associated with lung function and asthma control test scores with pMDI with either spacer compared with using pMDI alone, particularly during the initial visits. These findings can pave the way for more economic, user-friendly, and effective solutions for enhancing pMDI usage with better clinical outcomes.