Patient error in use of bronchodilator metered aerosols

Abstract

Aerosolised bronchodilator drugs in pressurised canisters delivering metered doses are widely used, easy to carry, and apparently easy to operate. The instructions with each canister are reasonably clear, stating that each puff must be deeply inhaled and the breath held afterwards. Since the drug intake depends mostly on the patient’s ability to follow the instructions, we thought it was important to find out whether asthmatics used their aerosols correctly. © 1976, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.