OBJECTIVE:To evaluate inhaler technique in outpatients with asthma and to determine
associations between the correctness of that technique and the level of asthma
control.METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study involving patients > 14 years of age with
physician-diagnosed asthma. The patients were recruited from the Asthma Outpatient
Clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, in the city
of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The patients completed two questionnaires (a general
questionnaire and an asthma control questionnaire based on the 2011 Global
Initiative for Asthma guidelines), demonstrated their inhaler technique, and
performed pulmonary function tests. Incorrect inhaler technique was defined as the
incorrect execution of at least two of the predefined steps.RESULTS:We included 268 patients. Of those, 81 (30.2%) showed incorrect inhaler
technique, which was associated with poor asthma control (p = 0.002). Logistic
regression analysis identified the following factors associated with incorrect
inhaler technique: being widowed (OR = 5.01; 95% CI, 1.74-14.41; p = 0.003); using
metered dose inhalers (OR = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.35-1.85; p < 0.001); having a
monthly family income < 3 times the minimum wage (OR = 2.67; 95% CI, 1.35-1.85;
p = 0.008), and having > 2 comorbidities (OR = 3.80; 95% CI, 1.03-14.02; p =
0.045).CONCLUSIONS:In the sample studied, incorrect inhaler technique was associated with poor
asthma control. Widowhood, use of metered dose inhalers, low socioeconomic level,
and the presence of > 2 comorbidities were associated with incorrect inhaler
technique.