| Abstract | Preference for and satisfaction with inhaler devices may be associated with
improved clinical outcomes, but this has not been proven to date.
A screened Medline search for papers on preference for inhaler devices produced 29 studies on
a variety of devices, with Advair Diskus
1
and Turbuhaler
TM
featuring prominently. Of the 23
studies sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, the sponsor’s device was preferred in 19.
Interpretation of results was made more difficult because only two studies used robust
instruments for measuring preference and satisfaction. Patients with unstable disease or who
were unable to use inhalers were usually excluded, and the extent of instruction and coaching
given in the studies was greater than that seen in everyday practice. Studies found no significant
differences in clinical outcomes between devices (where measured).
Although inhaler preference is a valid patient-reported outcome deserving of scientific study,
assessment and reporting of preference outcomes should follow the same regulatory standards
as other patient-reported outcomes.
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