Table 1.
Characteristics of tested devices, baseline characteristics of patients, and differences in usability
| Breezhaler | Genuair | Handihaler | p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Device characteristics | |||||
| Manoeuvres (n)a | 7 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Time spent by nurse with patients during trainingb (min) | 1st attempt | 2.8 ± 0.1 | 1.3 ± 0.1 | 1.4 ± 0.1 | p < 0.0001 |
| 2nd attempt | 4.2 ± 0.2 | 1.8 ± 0.1 | 2 ± 0.2 | p < 0.0001 | |
| 3rd attempt | 5.0 ± 0.3 | 2.1 ± 0.2 | 2.7 ± 0.2 | p < 0.0001 | |
| Patient characteristics | |||||
| Patients (N) | 333 | 237 | 223 | ||
| Age (years) | 55.2 ± 18.3 | 54.8 ± 17.5 | 57.8 ± 17.9 | NS | |
| Sex (% male) | 46.5 % | 49.4 % | 43.9 % | NS | |
| Disease (% COPD) | 47.4 % | 47.7 % | 51.6 % | NS | |
| Previous experience with DPI | 63.7 % | 66.7 % | 64.6 % | NS | |
| Previous instruction to use of DPI | 60.7 % | 64.1 % | 62.8 % | NS | |
| Usability | |||||
| N. attempts before achieving the first proper inhalation | 2.6 ± 1.1 | 1.6 ± 0.8 | 2.5 ± 1.1 | p < 0.0001 | |
| Successful rate at the first attempt (%) | 18.0 % | 55.7 % | 19.3 % | p < 0.0001 | |
| Total time required for the first proper inhalationb (min) | 10.3 ± 5.0 | 2.5 ± 1.6 | 4.9 ± 2.7 | p < 0.0001 | |
DPI dry powder inhaler
aNumber of operations to prepare the inhalation
bIncluding patient time and nurse demonstration