RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The correct method for using inhalation devices (DI) is essential to optimize treatment efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the method of inhalation technique, study the correlations with patient characteristics, disease, treatment and measure the impact of direct and individual educational method, centered on the use of technical DI, on improving this technique and control of the disease. METHOD: Prospective study of 54 patients. The therapeutic education program included 3 levels of action: identifying errors in the inhalation technique, demonstrating the inhalation technique and evaluation of therapeutic education. RESULT: The most used DI was metered-dose inhalers (AD) (66.67%). The average error was 4.63 errors/patient for AD and 5.11 for dry powder inhalers. The main factors related to the misuse of DI were lower advanced level of education and age. The therapeutic education has significantly improved the number of errors/patient with improved asthma control (P<0.05) and COPD assessment test (CAT) in the case of COPD. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the important role of therapeutic education focused on inhalation techniques in improving the use of DI technology and the evolution of asthma and COPD.