Assessment of inhaler technique among fourth-year pharmacy students: Implications for the use of entrustable professional activities.

Introduction: It is unknown when and how often competency assessments should occur in pharmacy education. Using inhaler technique as an example competency, the study objectives were to measure the proportion of near-graduation students demonstrating correct technique approximately one year after initial training and to measure reliability between assessors.

Methods: A sample of 45 near-graduation pharmacy students with prior education on correct inhaler technique participated in this direct observation study at the University of Otago.

Accurate, reproducible measurement of acetone concentration in breath using selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry.

Using selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) for on-line analysis, we aimed to define the optimal single-exhalation breathing manoeuvre from which a measure of expired acetone concentration could be obtained. Using known acetone concentrations in vitro, we determined the instrument's accuracy, inter-measurement variability and dynamic response time. Further, we determined the effects of expiratory flow and volume on acetone concentration in the breath of 12 volunteers and calculated intra-individual coefficients of variation (CVs).

Predicting corticosteroid response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using exhaled nitric oxide.

Rationale: Predicting corticosteroid response in COPD is important but difficult. Response is more likely to occur in association with eosinophilic airway inflammation, for which the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (Fe(NO)) is a good surrogate marker.

Objectives: We aimed to establish whether Fe(NO) levels would predict the clinical response to oral corticosteroid in COPD.