Patients' opinions of CFC-free inhaler changeover in primary care

Objective: To determine patient's opinions regarding the changeover from CF C containing to CFC-free salbutamol. Design: Patients receiving metered dose salbutamol inhaler therapy were ide ntified and verbal consent was obtained before a semi-structured interview was performed. Setting An outpatient respiratory clinic within a busy teach ing hospita. Main outcome measures: Knowledge of CFC-free inhaler therapy and acceptance of change. Results: A total of 28 patients were identified of whom only eight (29%) ha d been changed to a CFC-free product. Six of these (75%) had received couns elling from their GP or pharmacist regarding the change. Differences were r eported by all of the patients who had been changed to a CFC-free inhaler w ith comments including difference in taste (6 patients), difference in feel (6), less effective (1) and more effective (1). Three patients preferred t he CFC-free inhaler to their previous therapy. Although 13 out of the 20 pa tients who had not received a CFC-free inhaler stated they were happy with the potential changeover, 10 (80%) has concerns relating to effectiveness. Conclusion: The majority of patients still receiving CFC inhalers were awar e that the production of CFC-containing products had been restricted althou gh they were unaware of the imminent changes that would take place regardin g their inhaler therapy. However, the small sample size recruited in this s tudy may mean that the results are unrepresentative of the CFC-free impleme ntation process in the Grampian Health Board area as a whole. Nonetheless, in view of the differences experienced by patients who received CFC-free in halers and the concerns stated about potential lack of efficacy by patients about to be changed over, it is essential that healthcare professionals pr ovide advice on CFC-free inhalers to all patients.