Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways that causes bronchoconstriction. To relieve symptoms, bronchodilators are used, while steroids are used to prevent inflammation. The document provides instructions on how to demonstrate the proper use of an inhaler to a patient, including shaking the inhaler, making a seal around the mouth, breathing out before inhaling, holding your breath for 10 seconds, and having the patient demonstrate back to ensure proper technique. Spacers can be used for children or elderly to help with coordination and decrease drug deposition in the throat. PEFR measurements are also demonstrated to measure airway obstruction by blowing into a meter.

1. INHALERS

2. Easy station in theory but make sure
you practise so you don’t miss out on
easy marks!

3. What is Asthma?
 Inflammatory condition of the airways that leads
to bronchoconstriction
 In order to RELIEVE symptoms we can use
BRONCHODILATORS
 In order to PREVENT the inflammation we can
use STEROIDS

4. WICE
1. WASH HANDS
2. Introduce – ‘Hello, my name is... and i’m a first
year medical student from Manchester University.
Can I ask you your name?’
3. Explain – ‘I’ve been asked to explain how to use
and inhaler. I’ll show you how to use it and then
ask you to demonstrate?’
4. Consent – ‘Is that okay?’

5. The station
1. Get an inhaler from the clean box
2. Shake it, open lid, make sure its clean (or wipe it)
3. Sit up straight/ stand up
4. Thumb on base and forefinger on top of inhaler
5. Breath out
6. Make a good seal
7. Press down and take a deep slow breath at the same
time
8. Take out inhaler from mouth
9. Hold breath for 10 secs or as long as you can manage
 GET THEM TO SHOW YOU – give them a clean one!

6. General tips
 Show once while talking through it
 Show again without talking
 They will probably make a mistake so you need
to be looking at what they do and correct them –
you may need to demonstrate again or just get
them to repeat it once you have pointed out their
mistake (politely!)

7. Spacers
 Used for children or elderly to
overcome coordination problems and
to decrease the amount of drug
deposited in pharynx
1. Attach the two ends
2. Place inhaler in the slot
3. Make a good seal
4. Release one puff
5. Take deep breath and hold for 10
secs and breath out slowly
6. Repeat breath holding
If person can’t hold their breath they

8. PEFR
 This is to measure how fast you can blow air out
and is a measure of how clear or obstructed your
airways are
 WICE
 Attach cardboard mouthpiece
 Stand up
 Zero meter and hold in horizontally
 Deep breath in
 Blow out as hard as possible and record the
value
 Repeat twice
 Take best of three

9. Summary
 WICE
 Show
 Watch
 Correct
 Be nice and look confident!

10. GOOD LUCK!