Comparing Usability of NEXThaler® with Other Inhaled Corticosteroid/Long-Acting [beta]2-Agonist Fixed Combination Dry Powder Inhalers in Asthma Patients

Background: Inhaler mishandling is a common issue among patients suffering from asthma and is associated with poor clinical outcomes and greater consumption of health-care resources. Ease of use can improve inhaler technique and, possibly, patients' preference for their inhaler device, which in turn may lead to better adherence to therapy. Methods: This study investigated usability characteristics of NEXThaler[sup]® versus two other dry powder inhalers (DPIs; Diskus[sup]® and Turbuhaler[sup]®). Sixty-six adult patients with asthma (mean age 42.9±17.7 years) and with no previous experience of using a DPI were included in a randomized crossover comparison of the three devices. The main measures of usability were the number of steps failed for each device and the number of people who were able to use the device successfully (effectiveness), the time it took patients to set up the device and the time to read the instructions for use (IFU; efficiency), and patient preferences (satisfaction). Inhaler technique was evaluated after the IFU leaflet was read. Results: NEXThaler was found to be superior to the other two DPIs in terms of the number of device use failures (p