Healthy Kids: Devices for asthma, allergies

For people with asthma or severe allergies, medical devices like inhalers and epinephrine autoinjectors, such as EpiPen, can be life saving.  Dr. Annette St. Pierre-MacKoul discusses a new study that shows most patients do not use these devices correctly.

Research Study:
-Done at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
-Published January, 2015, Annals of Allergy & Immunology.
-Reality:  Devices used incorrectly.
-Goal:  Education and improved usage.

Results of the Study for Autoinjector:
-16 percent of patients used epinephrine autoinjector properly.
-Need to read and use autoinjector when not emergent.
-Hold autoinjector in place for 10 seconds after use.
-Place the needle end of autoinjector on thigh.
-Depress the device forcefully to activate injection.

Results of the Study for Inhalers:
-7 percent of patients demonstrated proper usage.
-Need to exhale completely before inhaling.
-Failure to shake inhaler before usage.
-Education is needed.