Pulmonary administration medicines 1: procedure for use of PMD inhalers

Rickards, Emma
Proctor, Jaclyn

Authors Emma Rickards is a respiratory nurse consultant, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Knowsley Community Respiratory Service; Jaclyn Proctor is a respiratory advanced nurse practitioner, Warrington Hospital.

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

Nursing Times 117(1):p 18-21, January 2021.

Abstract

Inhaled medications are the mainstay of pharmacological treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Correct inhaler technique and appropriate delivery devices are essential for optimal treatment. This first article in a two-part series provides an introduction to using inhaled therapies and describes the procedure for teaching patients to use pressurised metered-dose inhalers with and without a spacer. Part 2 will describe the procedure for the use of dry-powder inhalers and nebulisers for medicines administration.