Abstract

Background: For many years inhaler technique training has been seen as an essential part of initiating new inhaler devices or reviewing patients. This is linked to associations of poor technique with increased risk of admission, more symptomatology and worse control of asthma or COPD. When initiating the patient this will involve assessing suitability, along with patient choice for a variety of inhaler devices. When reviewing at times the patient will bring in the device but often not. The plan was to provide an update for GPST to aid their involvement in assessment of inhaler technique and teaching this to patient - through practical involvement.
Method: RightBreathe was accessed to ascertain the number of different inhaler devices on the market in the UK. This was done in April 2026. Pressure meter dose inhalers were requested from a number of companies. Other differing devices where requested by email to every company who have these available for prescription in the UK. This was completed on the same day. The results were collated.
Results:
Requests were sent to 16 companies producing 26 different devices (excluding pressure meter dose inhalers)
1 request was not sent as the inhaler had been discontinued
3/4 requests for pressure meter dose inhalers were successful.
Only 7/21 requests for other devices were successful
2 companies provided one device but not the other dry powder device in their stable
4 companies indicated they no longer provided placebo devices (8 different devices). (1 suggesting it was for environmental reasons)
2 companies did not respond (4 devices)
Conclusions
This brief survey highlights that availability of placebo devices is not readily available for many of the licensed products available in the UK. This would make initiating people on treatment very challenging. It would be interesting to explore the companies reasons for this, the initiation of patients on such device without placebo training and how much evidence and current practice it to guide to an online video as an alternative. If the initiation and review is deemed important in people with asthma and COPD then more expectation of use of placebo should be expected.