Family Physician, 1993;5:22-26.

Abstract

The knowledge of 16 medical officers and 21 house officers from the Department of Medicine regarding the technique of using the pressurised metered dose inhaler (MDI) was evaluated. The doctors were interviewed individually and each was requested to demonstrate the use of a placebo inhaler. Only 21.6% of the participants correctly performed all the ten steps considered to constitute correct inhalation technique. The most common mistake was failure to actuate the inhaler at the start of breathing in through the mouth. Although inhaler technique was better among the medical officers, all of whom claimed to have instructed patients on the use of pressurised MDIs, house officers who were also involved in patient instruction performed equally well. Unfortunately, doctors with inadequate technique had also instructed patients and this could be one of the causes of incorrect technique among patients. Key words: Correct technique, doctors, pressurised metered dose inhaler