Letter

Elderly people's technique in using dry powder inhalers

BMJ 2001; 323 doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7303.49/a (Published 7 July 2001)
Cite this as: BMJ 2001;323:49.2

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New inhaler devices are rarely used by older people in the community

  1. Lindsey Dow (Lindsey.Dow@bristol.ac.uk), consultant senior lecturer in care of the elderly and general internal medicine,
  2. L Fowler, senior research nurse,
  3. H Lamb, senior research nurse
  1. Care of the Elderly, Division of Medicine, University of Bristol, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE
  2. 87 Polsloe Road, Exeter EX1 2HW

    EDITOR—Diggory et al report on the inhaler technique of older adults using two dry powder devices, the Diskhaler and Turbohaler; they had not used an inhaler before.1 Greater competence was found with the Turbohaler. This device was also shown to be superior in an earlier study when it was compared with a pressurised metered dose inhaler attached to a spacer device.2

    Satisfactory inhaler technique is influenced by cognitive function. As more recently developed devices require fewer steps before lung inhalation, and inspiration and actuation may not require simultaneous coordination, theoretical advantages exist for older patients with cognitive impairment.

    We have investigated use of different inhaler devices and technique in elderly people living in the community. A stratified random sampling …

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