OBJECTIVE: To evaluate child and parent satisfaction with the use of spacers in acute asthma. METHODS: All parents of children presenting to the emergency department of Sydney Children's Hospital over a 3-month period with mild to moderately severe acute asthma who were treated with bronchodilators by spacer device were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Children aged 8 years and older completed a separate questionnaire independently. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven of 158 parents (70%) responded. The majority (84%) found it 'easy' or 'very easy' to use the spacer and 85% reported that they intended to use the spacer at home. Of those parents who had previously used a nebulizer (n = 73), 84% said that the spacer was easier to use, 77% said that the spacer was better tolerated by their child and 84% said that overall they preferred the spacer. Seventeen of 31 children aged 8-14 years treated with a spacer (55%) responded to the satisfaction survey. All respondents found it 'easy' or 'OK' to use the spacer and the majority (82%) 'liked it' or thought 'it was OK'. The majority of children (82%) said that they preferred using spacers because it was quicker (29%) or easier to use (53%). CONCLUSION: The use of spacer devices in mild to moderately severe acute asthma is highly acceptable for children and parents; the majority prefer this mode of drug delivery to nebulization.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate child and parent satisfaction with the use of spacers in acute asthma. METHODS: All parents of children presenting to the emergency department of Sydney Children's Hospital over a 3-month period with mild to moderately severe acute asthma who were treated with bronchodilators by spacer device were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Children aged 8 years and older completed a separate questionnaire independently. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven of 158 parents (70%) responded. The majority (84%) found it 'easy' or 'very easy' to use the spacer and 85% reported that they intended to use the spacer at home. Of those parents who had previously used a nebulizer (n = 73), 84% said that the spacer was easier to use, 77% said that the spacer was better tolerated by their child and 84% said that overall they preferred the spacer. Seventeen of 31 children aged 8-14 years treated with a spacer (55%) responded to the satisfaction survey. All respondents found it 'easy' or 'OK' to use the spacer and the majority (82%) 'liked it' or thought 'it was OK'. The majority of children (82%) said that they preferred using spacers because it was quicker (29%) or easier to use (53%). CONCLUSION: The use of spacer devices in mild to moderately severe acute asthma is highly acceptable for children and parents; the majority prefer this mode of drug delivery to nebulization.
Authors: Carlos Martín de Argila; Julio Ponce; Emilio Márquez; M José Plazas; Jordi Galván; Joan Heras; Joana Porcel Journal: Clin Drug Investig Date: 2007 Impact factor: 2.859
Authors: Shannon D Scott; Martin H Osmond; Kathy A O'Leary; Ian D Graham; Jeremy Grimshaw; Terry Klassen Journal: Implement Sci Date: 2009-10-13 Impact factor: 7.327