Respiratory care
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Observational Study
A Tablet-Based Multimedia Education Tool Improves Provider and Subject Knowledge of Inhaler Use Techniques.
Although inhaled medications are effective therapies for COPD, many patients and providers use them incorrectly. ⋯ A tablet-based inhaler education tool improved inhaler technique for both providers and subjects. Although this intervention did show durable efficacy for improving inhaler use by patients, it did not reduce their respiratory symptoms.
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The aim of this systematic review is to examine the benefit/risk ratio of the use of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) devices for airway clearance in patients with neuromuscular diseases. A search was conducted for relevant studies in MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the Health Technology Assessment Database using the main key words: cough, airway clearance, in-exsufflation. The search limits were studies published in English and French between 1970 and 2014 (literature watch until December 2015). ⋯ Most European and American guidelines recommend the use of MI-E despite low-level evidence. However, even if performing comparative trials in a specific population is difficult, the medical device industry should provide reliable data to assist health-care professionals, providers, and payers in the decision-making process. This is the only way to ensure the best treatment for patients.
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Improper inhaler use results in decreased drug deposition in the lungs. The impact of health literacy and poor vision on the patient's ability to learn inhaler technique by reading instructions has not been confirmed. This study evaluated the effectiveness of learning inhaler technique from written instructions and the impact of health literacy for patients diagnosed with COPD who used a dry powder inhaler (DPI). ⋯ The educational handouts for DPIs helped participants already using a DPI to improve their inhaler technique. Stable participants diagnosed with COPD are able to generate appropriate PIFs to properly use DPIs. Neither vision nor health literacy was associated with the inability to learn inhaler technique from patient education inhaler device handouts.