Shared Decision-Making Facilitates Inhaler Choice in Patients with Newly-Diagnosed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Multicenter Prospective Study

PURPOSE: Inadequate inhaler technique and nonadherence to therapy are associated with poorer clinical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Shared decision-making (SDM), based on clinical evidence, patient goals and preferences, improves quality of care. This study aims to investigate the initial patients’ choices of inhaler devices in patients with newly-diagnosed COPD after an SDM process. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational, multi-center study in four hospitals in Taiwan from December 2019 to July 2021. All treatment-naïve patients with newly-diagnosed COPD who were able to use three different inhalers of dual bronchodilators (Respimat(®), Ellipta(®), and Breezhaler(®)) in the outpatient setting were enrolled. After an SDM process, every patient was prescribed with one inhaler chosen by him- or herself. Errors of using inhalers were recorded after prescription of the inhaler, and at the follow-up visit a month later. The patients’ adherence, satisfaction score, and willingness to keep the initially chosen inhaler were investigated. RESULTS: In 109 enrolled patients, 43, 45, and 21 patients chose Respimat(®), Ellipta(®), and Breezhaler(®), respectively. Patients chose different inhalers had similar rates of critical error on both visits, while the rates greatly decrease on the follow-up visit, no matter which inhaler devices they chose initially. The majority of patients had good adherence (use as the prescription daily, n = 79, 82%), satisfaction (satisfaction score ≥4, n = 70, 73%), and strong willingness to keep the initial inhaler (n = 89, 93%) on the follow-up visit regardless of disease severity and their comorbidities. CONCLUSION: SDM might facilitate inhaler choosing, reduce inhaler errors (versus baseline) with good adherence, satisfaction and strong willingness to keep the initial inhaler in patients with newly-diagnosed COPD.