Video education versus face-to-face education on inhaler technique for patients with well-controlled or partly-controlled asthma: a phase IV, open-label, non-inferiority, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial

Background: Education on inhaler technique is critical for effective asthma treatment. However, traditionally used face-to-face education is a time-consuming, costly, and often laborious. The current study evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed video-based inhaler technique education method. Methods: A total of 184 subjects with well-controlled or partly-controlled asthma were enrolled from 12 hospitals in South Korea from 30 November 2015 to 01 June 2016. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups in a 1:1 ratio; a control group that received face-to-face education, and an study group that received video education. All subjects received fluticasone propionate plus salmeterol xinafoate (Fluterol® 250/50 inhalation capsules) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1) at 12 weeks. The secondary outcome measures were change in FEV1 at 4 weeks, change in asthma control test (ACT) score, and changes in various inhaler technique pa...