Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and debilitating condition with an insidious onset, often diagnosed in the middle age or later after a history of worsening breathlessness. Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI) are the mainstay of treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, incorrect use of which may lead to decreased medication delivery and poor disease control. This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in the medicine outpatient department in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) over a period of 6 months from October 2013 to April 2014 to identify the gap between prescribing inhalers and practical use by COPD patients. A total of 120 patients with COPD were included in the study. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire containing the variables of interest and was analyzed. Performing the correct steps of MDI was assessed by practical observation. The results showed that, among all the patients, 106 (88.3%) were male and 14 (11.7%) were female. Among 120 patients, only 10 (8.3%) patients could perform all steps of MDI correctly. At least one step was mistaken by 97 patients (80.83%). The association between age and MDI usage steps showed that maximum elderly patients in the age range of 61 to 80 had difficulty performing the steps. This study concluded that a number of patients in a tertiary care hospital were unable to use metered-dose-inhalers properly, and therefore indicates the need to make people aware of this technique, either by counseling or by arranging workshops.

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Metered dose inhalers.