RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The I-neb Adaptive Aerosol Delivery (AAD) System is a novel portable mesh nebulizer that provides patient feedback regarding adherence to prescribed treatment and compliance with the correct use of the device. METHODS: This multicenter study was composed of 98 patients aged 53-80 years with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The primary variables were ease of use and satisfaction, which were assessed after 3 months of use of the I-neb AAD System (assessed at visit 2) and after 3 months of use of the patient's previous nebulizer system (assessed at visit 1) using matched questions from pre- and poststudy questionnaires. Quality of life was also assessed at visits 1 and 2 using the validated Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ), which consists of dyspnea, emotional function, fatigue, and mastery domains. Differences in the distribution of responses between the pre- and poststudy ease of use and satisfaction questions were analyzed using the Marginal Homogeneity test. Differences in mean CRQ scores between the pre- and poststudy assessments were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. RESULTS: Patient responses on the ease of use and satisfaction questions significantly (p < or = 0.001) favored the I-neb AAD System compared with the patient's previous nebulizer system. In addition, significant (p < or = 0.015) improvements in the CRQ dimensions of dyspnea and fatigue were reported with the I-neb AAD System compared with the patients' previous nebulizer systems. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study demonstrated that patients were more satisfied with the I-neb AAD System and found it easier to use than their previous nebulizer systems. In addition, the I-neb AAD System significantly improved dyspnea and fatigue compared with the patients' previous nebulizer systems, which may reflect improved adherence or more correct use of the nebulizer system with the I-neb AAD System.