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Lung Sask

Inhaled Delivery Device Course

Type online
Price $100.00
Course Length 5–10 hours
Timeframe 6 months
Access open

In response to the need identified by Canada’s respiratory health care community, RESPTREC® developed this online Inhaled Delivery Devices (IDD) Course to expand its suite of professional training programs.

The course equips respiratory educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources required to ensure patients prescribed IDDs can use them safely and effectively. Drawing on the best available evidence, RESPTREC® has developed a curriculum that reflects current understanding of inhaled therapies while recognizing that ongoing research continues to shape this field.

Because much of the existing evidence on IDDs comes from studies in asthma and COPD, the course includes a concise overview of both conditions. This introduction provides essential context for understanding inhaled delivery devices and their role in supporting optimal disease management.

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Curriculum

Chapters

  1. Inhaled Delivery Device Assessment
  2. Inhaled Delivery Device Instruction
  3. Inhaled Delivery Device Evaluation and Follow-up
  4. Inhaled Delivery Device Resources

Course Competencies

Chapter: Introduction to Inhaled Delivery Devices

  1. Describe the components of inhaled delivery device care
    1. Explain the components of inhaled delivery device care including:
      1. IDD assessment
      2. IDD instruction
      3. IDD evaluation and follow-up
      4. IDD resources
  2. Describe the impact of inhaled delivery device misuse
    1. Discuss the impact of IDD misuse in terms of:
      1. The impact on disease management
      2. The existing evidence related to rates of misuse
      3. The reasons for IDD misuse
  3. Describe the impact of inhaled delivery device adherence
    1. Define what is meant by medication adherence
    2. Explain the types of nonadherence to therapy
    3. Explain the reasons for nonadherence to therapy
    4. Explain the risks and impact associated to nonadherence to therapy
    5. Discuss suggestions for possible solutions to nonadherence to therapy
  4. Explain the different types of inhaled delivery devices
    1. Discuss inhalation as a route of drug administration
    2. Discuss the different types of IDDs including:
      1. Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs)
      2. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs)
      3. Soft-mist inhalers (SMIs)
      4. Nebulizers
    3. Discuss the advantages and limitations of the different types of IDDs including:
      1. Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs)
      2. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs)
      3. Soft-mist inhalers (SMIs)
      4. Nebulizers
    4. Explain the importance of drug particle size in inhaled medications
    5. Explain the importance of considering inspiratory effort when choosing an IDD

Chapter: Inhaled Delivery Device Assessment

  1. Conduct a comprehensive inhaled delivery device assessment
    1. Explain the selection considerations when recommending an inhaled delivery device:
      1. Patient characteristics:
        1. Age
        2. Inspiratory effort
        3. Ability (physical and cognitive)
      2. Patient preference
      3. Practical considerations:
        1. Cost
        2. Adherence
        3. Inhaler technique
        4. Multiple IDDs prescribed

Chapter: Inhaled Delivery Device Instruction

  1. Counsel on the correct use and care of inhaled delivery devices
    1. Explain the direct instruction model (DIM) for teaching
    2. Explain how to properly use and maintain IDDs (listed below) in terms of being able to:
      1. Identify and name each IDD
      2. Describe the basic components of each device
      3. Explain the steps to use each device
      4. Describe the safety considerations for each device
      5. Describe how to care for and maintain each device
      6. Describe common technique errors for each device
        • Devices:
          1. Breezhaler®
          2. Diskus®
          3. Ellipta®
          4. Genuair®
          5. Handihaler®
          6. Metered-dose Inhaler (MDI)
          7. Nebulizer
          8. Respimat®
          9. Turbuhaler®
          10. Twisthaler®
  2. Describe the following assistive devices used to improve medication delivery when using IDDs
    1. Discuss the following assistive devices as they relate to improved drug delivery when using metered dose inhalers:
      1. Valved-holding chamber with a mouthpiece
      2. Valved-holding chamber with a mask
    2. Discuss the guidelines for use of valved-holding chambers
  3. Describe IDD management strategies for patients with variable cognitive and physical abilities
    1. Explain strategies (modifications, adaptations, levels of assistance) to consider when using IDDs with patients with variable cognitive and physical abilities

Chapter: Inhaled Delivery Device Evaluation and Follow-up

  1. Evaluate inhaled delivery device effectiveness
    1. Describe strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of IDDs including:
      1. The choose, check, correct, confirm cycle
      2. IDD checklists
    2. Identify common technique errors when using the following types of IDDs:
      1. Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs)
      2. Valved holding chambers (VHCs)/ spacers
      3. Dry-powder inhalers (DPIs)
      4. Soft-mist inhalers (SMIs)
      5. Nebulizers
  2. Explain the importance of inhaled delivery device care in follow-up
    1. Discuss the importance of reviewing IDD care in follow-up
    2. Discuss the components to include in a follow-up appointment related to IDD care including:
      1. IDD technique
      2. Medication adherence

Chapter: Inhaled Delivery Device Resources

  1. Counsel a patient on the appropriate education resources available to support inhaled delivery device care
    1. Describe the criteria used to evaluate the quality of educational resources including:
      1. Credibility of the content (currency, accuracy, publication source)
      2. Clarity of the content
      3. Literacy level
      4. Accessibility (cost, availability)
      5. Language and cultural sensitivity
      6. Age appropriateness
    2. Identify the resources that are available to support patient education for IDDs
  2. Implement strategies to ensure inhaled delivery device care is included in the overall management plan for patients using inhaled delivery devices
    1. Describe the strategies that healthcare professionals can implement in their practice environment to ensure IDD care is part of a patient management plan

Eligibility

Students must meet the following entrance criteria:

  • hold a degree/diploma in a recognized health care profession and work in the health care field
  • scope of practice includes counselling/educating patients in inhaled delivery device care

If there is a question regarding met criteria, acceptance to the program will be made on an individual basis and at the discretion of the RESPTREC® Management committee.

Acknowledgements

A wide range of representatives from health disciplines and endorsing agencies were involved in the development of this course.

RESPTREC® would like to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution the following individuals of the online Inhaled Delivery Device (IDD) Course Expert committee and additional contributors made to the development of this course.

RESPTREC® IDD Course Expert Committee

  • Dr. Don Sin, MD MPH
  • Dr. Alan Kaplan, MD CCFP(EM) Chair - FPAGC
    • Representing the Family Physician's Airways Group of Canada (FPAGC)
  • Kathy Hayward, BSP CRE CTE
  • Dr. Rashaad Hansia, MD MBBCH MPH DOH MBA GDE (WITS) MFOM (RCP London, UK) CCFP (Canada)
    • Physician Dyad Leader, Saskatchewan Health Athority
  • Jaimie Peters, MN RN CRE
    • Lung Saskatchewan
  • Holly Mansell, BSP PharmD
    • University of Saskatchewan
  • Trent Litzenberger, BScPT BSPE CRE
    • Lung Saskatchewan
  • Jan Neumann, BPT CRE
    • Lung Saskatchewan
  • Lori Nagy
    • Program Manager - RESPTREC®

RESPTREC® gratefully acknowledges AstraZeneca for providing support for the development of the IDD course through an unrestricted education grant.

Study Credits

The hours invested in completing this course can be included in your continuing professional education learning portfolio.

Non-accredited Study Hours

RESPTREC® courses can be considered evidence-based, relevant, non-accredited learning hours within continuing professional development portfolios. The Inhaled Delivery Device Course should take 5–10 hours to complete.

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Saskatoon, SK  S7J 3L3