🫁 Inhaler Technique – OSCE Guide for Medical
Students
🧼 1. Opening the Consultation
Wash hands and wear PPE if appropriate.
Introduce yourself: Name and role (e.g. “Hello, I’m [Name], a
medical student.”)
Confirm patient identity: Name and date of birth.
Confirm the inhaler you’ll be discussing/demonstrating.
Assess baseline understanding:
“Have you used this inhaler before or been shown how to use it?”
Check the patient’s comfort:
“Are you sitting comfortably? Any pain or breathlessness before we
begin?”
🧑⚕️
2. Explanation of the Inhaler
📌 Overview of the Inhaler
Name the inhaler and indication:
“This is a [name] inhaler. It’s been prescribed to help control your asthma
symptoms.”
Show the device and describe its parts:
o Mouthpiece
o Canister (if applicable)
o Dose counter
💊 3. Types of Inhalers
🔹 Pressurised Metered Dose Inhalers (pMDIs)
Require coordination: press & inhale.
Propellant-based → higher carbon footprint.
Example: Ventolin® Evohaler® (Salbutamol).
Use with a spacer for best delivery.
🔹 Breath-Actuated Inhalers (BAIs)
Propellant-based but activated by inhalation.
No need for pressing → easier to coordinate.
Cannot be used with a spacer.
Example: Salbutamol Easyhaler®.
🔹 Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs)
No propellant — dry powder form.
Inhale deeply and quickly to activate.
Students
🧼 1. Opening the Consultation
Wash hands and wear PPE if appropriate.
Introduce yourself: Name and role (e.g. “Hello, I’m [Name], a
medical student.”)
Confirm patient identity: Name and date of birth.
Confirm the inhaler you’ll be discussing/demonstrating.
Assess baseline understanding:
“Have you used this inhaler before or been shown how to use it?”
Check the patient’s comfort:
“Are you sitting comfortably? Any pain or breathlessness before we
begin?”
🧑⚕️
2. Explanation of the Inhaler
📌 Overview of the Inhaler
Name the inhaler and indication:
“This is a [name] inhaler. It’s been prescribed to help control your asthma
symptoms.”
Show the device and describe its parts:
o Mouthpiece
o Canister (if applicable)
o Dose counter
💊 3. Types of Inhalers
🔹 Pressurised Metered Dose Inhalers (pMDIs)
Require coordination: press & inhale.
Propellant-based → higher carbon footprint.
Example: Ventolin® Evohaler® (Salbutamol).
Use with a spacer for best delivery.
🔹 Breath-Actuated Inhalers (BAIs)
Propellant-based but activated by inhalation.
No need for pressing → easier to coordinate.
Cannot be used with a spacer.
Example: Salbutamol Easyhaler®.
🔹 Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs)
No propellant — dry powder form.
Inhale deeply and quickly to activate.
