Obstructive lung diseases and inhaler treatment: results from a national public pragmatic survey

Abstract

BackgroundThe opinions held by the general population on obstructive lung disease and inhaler devices could influence asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) management and treatment adherence.The aim of the present public pragmatic survey was to evaluate the opinions, beliefs and perceptions of Italian people with respect to respiratory diseases as well as their perspectives on the use of inhaler devices.MethodsThis survey was conducted on a group of 2,008 individuals forming a representative sample of the Italian population aged 15 years and over. It was based on personal interviews that were administered in the homes of the respondents using a structured questionnaire that took approximately 30 minutes.ResultsAwareness of obstructive lung diseases is poor. Asthma, but not COPD, was perceived as a common and increasingly prevalent disease by the majority of the interviewees. Allergy, pollution and smoking were considered to be responsible for both of these diseases. The rates at which the respondents claimed to be suffering from asthma and COPD were lower than expected (4% and 2%, respectively). Inhaled drugs were recognised as the main treatment by 65% of the respondents. The great majority of respondents attributed positive characteristics to the inhaler device (e.g., safety, reliability, effectiveness, ease of use and practicality). Compared to people who have never used inhaler devices, individuals who suffer from asthma or COPD were more confident in their use and showed a greater belief in their safety, reliability and trustworthiness. People older than 64 years showed less attention to the properties of these devices.ConclusionsThe present results highlight the need for public interventions aimed at improving awareness of obstructive lung disease and reveal various potentialities and critical issues for inhaler device usage. Switching of devices was considered feasible by most of the interviewees, as long as the choice is carefully explained by their physician.

Defining and targeting health disparities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…This is largely a role of the public health sector in collaboration with others involved in health care provision. In general, the lay public’s knowledge of COPD is far less than that of other diseases such as asthma, cancer, and heart diseases; 148 , 149 therefore, it is imperative to educate the general public about COPD, partially relying on these surveillance data. Ideally, this education should occur throughout the population including the educational systems of young people.…”

COPD: adherence to therapy

“…In a recent survey carried out with pulmunologists, the definition of adherence in Respiratory Medicine that has received the highest consensus has been the following: “A condition that can only be fulfilled when the patient accepts the presence of the disease and the issues related to the recommended therapy” [ 3 ].…”

Inhalation errors due to device switch in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: critical health and economic issues

“…As a relevant proportion of patients affected by asthma and COPD are treated with inhaled drugs, 7 an appropriate inhaler technique is necessary to obtain and maintain an effective management of these pathologies. As stated by the Guide For Asthma Management and Prevention (updated in 2015), 8 up to 80% of asthma patients do not use their inhaler adequately, and this could lead to poorer symptom control and to a higher level of exacerbations.…”