Table 5 Findings of inductive content analysis of inhaler preference for interview participants with COPD
Relevant emergent themes (no. of patients reporting) | Clusters within theme (no. of raw mentions) | Relevant quotations to illustrate theme |
|---|---|---|
A – DISKUS (N = 21) | ||
Mouthpiece seal and security of getting all the medication (15) | Security of getting all my medication (8) | “I know I’m getting a good seal and all the medication” |
“I’m more confident the medication gets where it’s supposed to go” | ||
“With this mouthpiece I know I’m not going to suck air” | ||
Mouthpiece fit/seal to lips (6) | “Mouthpiece fits the shape of my mouth” | |
“I like the mouthpiece and how it fits my lips” | ||
Mouthpiece comfort (2) | “Mouthpiece was more comfortable” | |
More airflow (1) | “I found it easier to inhale, I got more air flow” | |
Ease & comfort to hold and operate (13) | Easy/better grip (8) | “Has grip lines and makes it easier to hold” |
“The bigger top is easier to grip” | ||
Fits well in hand (3) | “More slim, it fits nicely in my hand” | |
Can operate with one hand (3) | “Easier to flip open and can do it with one hand” | |
More comfortable to hold (2) | “Feels comfortable when it’s in my hand” | |
Simple, less steps to operate (13) | One less step—saves time (8) | “One motion, no extra steps to open” |
“One less step” | ||
Easier/simpler to use/user friendly (7) | “Easier, no extra step” | |
“85% easier to use” | ||
Counter makes it easy to read dose (10) | Easy to see/read/don’t need glasses (5) | “Can glance at it and see the dose count” |
“I don’t need to put on my glasses to see it” | ||
Larger counter (4) | “Like it because it has a larger dose counter” | |
Informs me when low (2) | “Gives me knowledge of when I’ll run out of medicine” | |
Ease of storage (4) | Ability to stand (4) | “It’s easy to store because it stands up” |
B – HandiHaler (N = 20) | ||
Simple mode of action / Fewer steps (17) | Simpler / not complex (11) | “Takes a lot less time to use” |
“This is much simpler because I have arthritis in my hands” | ||
Fewer steps / less time (8) | “I reach in my bag, grab the new device, open it, breathe and put it back; it’s much less time” | |
“Just takes less time” | ||
Difficulties managing Handihaler (4) | “Spiriva is more difficult, many more steps to manage and more messy” | |
Fewer components (7) | No capsules (5) | “Capsules are a pain in the butt” |
“Because there is no pill there is no complication” | ||
No blister pack (3) | “I don’t need a scissors to open the package that has the pill inside, which is good because I have arthritis” | |
Reliable (6) | More assured getting medicine (4) | “I wonder if I’m getting all the medication out of the capsule, and here I don’t have to worry.” |
Less chance for error (4) | “Less chance for mistakes—this is fool-proof” | |
“Much less chance of a mistake” | ||
C – MDI/HFA (N = 20) | ||
Ease of operation (8) | No shaking/no priming (3) | “I don’t have to shake it, I like that.” |
One puff, not two (3) | “It’s easier because I only have to take one puff, instead of two” | |
Fewer steps (2) | “It’s just fewer steps to take” | |
Coordination (7) | Ease of operation (3) | “It’s easy because I have arthritis and I could pull down the cover (on ELLIPTA), it can be difficult to push down on the other device” |
No coordination (2) | “It’s simpler to do because there’s no timing to worry about” | |
Dose counter (4) | Has a counter (2) | “I like that it has a counter, I don’t think mine does” |
Easy to read counter (2) | “The counter is bigger and I don’t see as well, so this is good for me” | |
One piece cover (4) | Better cover (4) | “This is a better mouthpiece cover, it is much more secure” |