An evaluation of children's metered-dose inhaler technique for asthma medications

Children's metered-dose inhaler (MDI) technique for asthma medications was evaluated pre- and postteaching. A majority (92%) of the children (N = 36) used their MDIs incorrectly during the pretest. The most common mistakes were: (1) not holding breath after actuation, (2) not waiting between inhalations, (3) inadequately shaking the medication, (4) not inhaling the medication fully, and (5) not using a spacer. The children made significant improvement in their MDI technique after receiving instruction (P < 0.001). The results of this study underscore the importance of teaching and reinforcing accurate medication administration technique at each health encounter.