Preparing for an inhaler review

01

Make the visit about the device you actually use

An inhaler review is a chance to show how you use your prescribed device and ask for help with anything difficult. There are different inhaler types, and the most suitable device can change over time. A technique that looks familiar is not necessarily the instruction for your particular product. Bring the actual inhaler so the conversation can be specific.

You do not need to arrive having mastered it. Asking for another demonstration is a normal part of care. When booking, say that you want someone to observe your technique with each inhaler. Ask whether a clinician, nurse or pharmacist can provide that review and whether you should bring any accessories you use with it.

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Sources for this section: [1] [2]

02

Match the medicine, device and instructions

For each inhaler, copy the exact product name and strength from its label and keep the packaging or instruction leaflet if available. A medicine name alone may not tell the reviewer which device is in your hand. If the product supplied has changed, bring the current one and explain the change instead of assuming that all the previous instructions still apply.

• Record the product and device name exactly as printed.
• Bring the dispensing label or prescription instructions.
• Note what you actually take and when, including anything different from the label.
• Keep questions about one inhaler separate from questions about another.

Sources for this section: [1] [3]

03

Bring the equipment and describe the difficult part

Bring your inhalers, any spacer or other accessory you normally use, the available instructions and your medicine list. Include nonprescription products and supplements on the list. If you cannot bring an item, tell the team which one is missing. A photograph can help identify a product, but it does not show the reviewer how you handle the actual device.

Write a short note about the point where you become uncertain. It might be reading the label, opening or holding the device, remembering the sequence, or knowing whether you followed an instruction correctly. Also mention cost, supply or other barriers. These details give the reviewer a concrete problem to discuss without requiring you to guess its cause or choose a replacement yourself.

Prepare an accurate medicine list

Sources for this section: [1] [3]

04

Ask for a demonstration, then show it back

Let the reviewer explain how they want you to demonstrate your usual technique. Ask them to show the steps for your exact device, then show or explain those steps back so they can check that the explanation was clear. If something remains confusing, ask them to go through that part again. This checks the teaching as well as your understanding; it is not a memory test.

Agree how to practise without taking unintended extra medicine. Do not take an additional dose just to demonstrate. Ask the reviewer to coordinate any demonstration with your prescribed use or suitable demonstration equipment. If you use more than one inhaler, go through each separately rather than transferring the sequence from one device to another.

Sources for this section: [1] [2] [3]

05

Take home instructions you can match to the device

Ask for the agreed instructions in a form you can use at home and label them with the product and device name. Note who checked the technique and which questions remain open. If you need larger print, an interpreter or help from a caregiver, say so before the review ends. The aim is to be able to follow the explanation in your own setting.

Use the review to confirm where to find the official instructions for cleaning, storage and any preparation the exact device requires. Ask about an unfamiliar term rather than borrowing a rule from another inhaler. This guide does not set a dose or a cleaning schedule; those details need to match the product and the plan agreed with your care team.

Sources for this section: [1] [2]

06

Finish with a short checklist

Before leaving, explain in your own words which instructions belong to each inhaler and who you will contact if a problem remains. Keep your medicine list consistent with the agreed prescription. If the discussion raises a possible treatment change, ask the prescriber to confirm it clearly instead of changing treatment based on a technique video or a general checklist.

• Have you watched me use every device that needs checking?
• Which step should I practise again, and how can I do that safely?
• Where are the instructions for this exact product and its accessories?
• What should I do if I cannot use or obtain the prescribed device?
• When should technique be checked again, and whom should I contact with questions?

Prepare questions for your appointment

Sources for this section: [1] [2] [3]