Table 5.

Findings of inductive content analysis of inhaler preference for interview participants with COPD

Relevant emergent themes (no. of patients reporting)	Clusters within theme (no. of raw mentions)	Relevant quotations to illustrate theme
A – DISKUS (N = 21)
Mouthpiece seal and security of getting all the medication (15)	Security of getting all my medication (8)	“I know I’m getting a good seal and all the medication”
		“I’m more confident the medication gets where it’s supposed to go”
		“With this mouthpiece I know I’m not going to suck air”
	Mouthpiece fit/seal to lips (6)	“Mouthpiece fits the shape of my mouth”
		“I like the mouthpiece and how it fits my lips”
	Mouthpiece comfort (2)	“Mouthpiece was more comfortable”
	More airflow (1)	“I found it easier to inhale, I got more air flow”
Ease & comfort to hold and operate (13)	Easy/better grip (8)	“Has grip lines and makes it easier to hold”
		“The bigger top is easier to grip”
	Fits well in hand (3)	“More slim, it fits nicely in my hand”
	Can operate with one hand (3)	“Easier to flip open and can do it with one hand”
	More comfortable to hold (2)	“Feels comfortable when it’s in my hand”
Simple, less steps to operate (13)	One less step—saves time (8)	“One motion, no extra steps to open”
		“One less step”
	Easier/simpler to use/user friendly (7)	“Easier, no extra step”
		“85% easier to use”
Counter makes it easy to read dose (10)	Easy to see/read/don’t need glasses (5)	“Can glance at it and see the dose count”
		“I don’t need to put on my glasses to see it”
	Larger counter (4)	“Like it because it has a larger dose counter”
	Informs me when low (2)	“Gives me knowledge of when I’ll run out of medicine”
Ease of storage (4)	Ability to stand (4)	“It’s easy to store because it stands up”
B – HandiHaler (N = 20)
Simple mode of action / Fewer steps (17)	Simpler / not complex (11)	“Takes a lot less time to use”
		“This is much simpler because I have arthritis in my hands”
	Fewer steps / less time (8)	“I reach in my bag, grab the new device, open it, breathe and put it back; it’s much less time”
		“Just takes less time”
	Difficulties managing Handihaler (4)	“Spiriva is more difficult, many more steps to manage and more messy”
Fewer components (7)	No capsules (5)	“Capsules are a pain in the butt”
		“Because there is no pill there is no complication”
	No blister pack (3)	“I don’t need a scissors to open the package that has the pill inside, which is good because I have arthritis”
Reliable (6)	More assured getting medicine (4)	“I wonder if I’m getting all the medication out of the capsule, and here I don’t have to worry.”
	Less chance for error (4)	“Less chance for mistakes—this is fool-proof”
		“Much less chance of a mistake”
C – MDI/HFA (N = 20)
Ease of operation (8)	No shaking/no priming (3)	“I don’t have to shake it, I like that.”
	One puff, not two (3)	“It’s easier because I only have to take one puff, instead of two”
	Fewer steps (2)	“It’s just fewer steps to take”
Coordination (7)	Ease of operation (3)	“It’s easy because I have arthritis and I could pull down the cover (on ELLIPTA), it can be difficult to push down on the other device”
	No coordination (2)	“It’s simpler to do because there’s no timing to worry about”
Dose counter (4)	Has a counter (2)	“I like that it has a counter, I don’t think mine does”
	Easy to read counter (2)	“The counter is bigger and I don’t see as well, so this is good for me”
One piece cover (4)	Better cover (4)	“This is a better mouthpiece cover, it is much more secure”

HFA = hydrofluoroalkane (propellant); MDI = metered dose inhaler.

Patients who were currently using A) DISKUS, B) HandiHaler, C) MDI/HFA to deliver their current medication.