Using videos to teach children inhaler technique: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: This primary objective of this pilot randomized, controlled trial was to determine whether a brief video intervention delivered after a pediatric office visit could improve inhaler technique in children with asthma immediately and one month later. The intervention's effect on children's inhaler self-efficacy and asthma control was also evaluated.

Methods: Children (n=91) ages 7-17 years with persistent asthma were recruited at two pediatric practices in North Carolina. Eligible children demonstrated their inhaler technique for metered dose inhalers (MDIs) either with or without a spacer. A trained research assistant used a validated inhaler technique checklist to record which steps children performed correctly. After a regularly scheduled office visit, children were randomized to watch either a 3-min MDI video (intervention group) or a nutrition video (control group) in English or Spanish. Children's technique was assessed again after watching the video and one month later.

Results: Children were primarily male (56%) and non-White (60%). When compared with the control group, children in the intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in MDI technique post-intervention [mean=1.12 steps, 95% CI (0.73, 1.50)] but the improvement was not sustained at 1-month follow-up. The intervention did not lead to significant improvements in inhaler self-efficacy or asthma control.

Conclusions: A brief video intervention offered during pediatric clinic visits can lead to immediate improvements in children's inhaler technique. Future studies should evaluate whether booster training videos can help maintain improvements in children's inhaler technique over time.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01641211.

Keywords: Asthma control; children; metered dose inhaler; self-efficacy; videos.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences or the National Institutes of Health.

Figures

Figure 1.

Flow diagram of participant progress through the trial.