Inhalers Overview: Types and Techniques

Attendees of our upcoming FREE webinar will be learning about inhalers: types and techniques from Mr Darush Attar-Zadeh. Darush is the Respiratory Lead, Right Breathe Pharmacist for Barnet CCG and Treating Tobacco Dependence Lead. In this post, we share information about the resources that Darush will use in the webinar, as well as the learning objectives and some important facts about inhaler use. The webinar is available to pharmacists based around the UK. To find out more and sign up, please use this link. If you are unable to make it, our educational platform has slides, webinar recordings ‘on-demand’ and further resources.

Inhalers Overview: Types and Techniques Webinar Learning Objectives

During the webinar, Darush will cover the following key objectives.

• The importance of correct inhaler technique in patients with asthma
• Common inhaler technique errors and their impact on outcomes
• Teaching inhaler technique and an example of an Inhaler Group Standards and Competency document used in the UK
• The environmental impact of inhalers
• Greener respiratory healthcare

Darush has produced comprehensive slides with facts and information covering each area. The agenda will take the following format:

• The environmental issue and how to manage targets
• Different inhaler types compared – their advantages and disadvantages
• An overview of products and devices – which to choose and how to support patients in their use
• Resources, signposting and system wide solutions – how to support patients to use their inhaler better

Learning will be reinforced through the use of interactive case studies. This gives attendees the opportunity to see how the theory translates into practice.

Why the focus on inhaler technique?

You have probably arrived at the MORPh website having heard a lot about the importance of inhaler technique. We have too, which is why we’re keen to share information about it far and wide. There are many potential implications of sub-optimal technique and we aim to help practitioners to reduce their own error rate. Such implications include:

• Poor control
• Increase in side effects
• Increased dose
• Escalation of treatment
• Increased hospital admission
• Increased cost

Reducing the carbon impact of inhalers

The NHS, like most organisations across the UK, has promised to reduce its environmental impact. As part of this, the NHS has committed to reducing the carbon impact of inhalers used in the treatment of respiratory conditions by 60%. All inhaler prescriptions, Structured Medication Reviews or planned Asthma Reviews taking place in primary care should now consider moving or facilitating patients to lower carbon options where it is clinically appropriate to do so. As such, in his webinar, Darush discusses the environmental issues around inhalers and how to manage the green targets.

Resources and guidance

Whether you are attending the Inhalers: Types and Techniques webinar and want to get a head start, or whether you are looking to do independent research, you will find these resources from Darush incredibly useful.

• How to use an inhaler: These videos from Asthma.org will improve your inhaler technique in just three minutes.
• Inhaler prescribing information: Rightbreathe.com
• Optimising inhaler technique remotely: Doing anything remotely has become much more pertinent since the start of the pandemic. This paper from the Taskforce for Lung Health sets out their position on optimising inhaler technique remotely.
• Inhaler education: The UK Inhaler Group has a wealth of information about inhaler prescription and use.
• Discussing inhaler options with patients: This NICE paper contains information to help people with asthma and their healthcare professionals discuss their options for inhaler devices.
• Choosing an inhaler device for adults with asthma or COPD: Darush will be referring to the respiratory guidelines on choosing an inhaler device for the treatment of adults with asthma or COPD.