Question

The client questions the nurse as to why the health care provider switched the usual prescription from a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) to a dry powder inhaler (DPI). The nurse should respond correctly by providing which fact? Select all that apply.

1) Dry powder inhalers have fewer side effects.
2) Dry power inhalers pose no environmental risks.
3) Dry power inhalers can be administered more frequently.
4) Dry powder inhalers deliver more medication to the lungs.
5) Dry powder inhalers require less hand-to-lung coordination.

Answer 1

A health care provider may switch from an MDI to a DPI because DPIs require less hand-to-lung coordination, have no environmental risks, and can potentially deliver more medication to the lungs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The health care provider might have switched the usual prescription from a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) to a dry powder inhaler (DPI) for a few reasons:

• Dry powder inhalers require less hand-to-lung coordination, which might benefit patients who struggle with timing the spray from an MDI and inhaling at the same time.
• Dry powder inhalers pose no environmental risks because they do not contain the propellants found in MDIs, which can be damaging to the environment.
• Dry powder inhalers are designed to deliver more medication to the lungs, as the powder form of the medication is thought to penetrate further into the lungs than the aerosol form in some cases.

However, DPIs require a certain level of inspiratory flow to deliver the medication effectively, which may not be suitable for all patients, particularly during a severe asthma attack when it might be difficult for them to inhale forcefully. Also, DPIs are generally not considered to have fewer side effects than MDIs; the side effects depend on the specific medication used rather than the delivery system.