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.