TY - JOUR T1 - Assessment of satisfaction with inhalation devices in COPD patients JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P758 AU - Eleftherios Zervas AU - Mina Gaga AU - Nikolaos Grekas AU - Katerina Papataxiarchou AU - Katerina Athanassiou Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P758.abstract N2 - INTRODUCTION: The choice of drug delivery system is one of the most important factors for COPD management. Health care professionals, taking also in mind the opinion of their patients, consider that ease of use and patient satisfaction for an inhaler are the key elements for selecting such a device.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this non-interventional study was the reliable measure of the ease of use and patient satisfaction with different dry powder inhalers (DPIs). Feeling of satisfaction with inhalers (FSI-10) questionnaire was used as measuring tool.METHODS: A four week, open, parallel study was performed. 561 COPD patients (133 women), aged 66±10 years, participated in three groups using different DPIs (Diskus®, Elpenhaler® and Turbuhaler®). The basic demographic characteristics of the groups were comparable. Patients had achieved mastery of their inhalers, were regularly receiving their treatments exclusively via the inhaled route and agreed to complete the questionnaire in the second visit. They were recruited in 79 private and hospital centers all over Greece.RESULTS: 517 subjects completed the study and the questionnaire. 79 suffered from mild, 243 from moderate, 148 from severe and 32 from very severe COPD. Although acceptance of all DPIs tested was reasonable, statistically significant differences in the ratings were detected. It was also noted that patients suffering with severe COPD tend to express higher feeling of satisfaction with their devices than those with moderate or mild disease.CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant differences were found in the scores among the tested devices. Patients in advanced stages of the disease generally express higher level of satisfaction with their devices. ER -