The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
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Inadequate skill in the use of asthma inhalation devices by healthcare professionals has been well documented over the past 25 years. We performed a PubMed search of the English literature for studies regarding skill by physicians, medical students, pharmacists, nurses, and respiratory therapists in using asthma inhalation devices. ⋯ National and international guidelines for asthma management include detailed patient education as an essential component of care, yet a large percentage of healthcare professionals are not competent in using inhalation devices. Practical solutions to this problem are needed to enhance the care of asthma patients.