EMJ partnered with PARI GmbH to bring clarity to one of the most common challenges in COPD care: choosing the right inhalation device for each patient. Through a three-click interactive selection tool, supported by a robust evidence article and a realistic patient case study, we created a practical solution that helps HCPs understand why device selection matters and apply it confidently in daily work.
A Rising Burden and the Need for Precise Device Choice
Recent estimates indicate that approximately 392 to 480 million people are living with COPD globally. This number is projected to approach 600 million cases by 2050. COPD is a leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for approximately 3.5 million deaths in 2021.
Yet despite the central role of inhalation devices, it is often difficult to choose the right system for each patient. Technique errors, suboptimal PIF, impaired dexterity, and device unfamiliarity continue to contribute to inadequate drug delivery, increased risk of complications, and poor outcomes.
Recognising this, we developed a suite of interactive resources designed to make evidence-based decision-making clearer, faster, and more intuitive for busy clinicians, bringing together expert insight, practical guidance, and real-world application.
Interactive Article: The Clinical Evidence Underpinning the Selection Tool
At the foundation is an interactive article featuring insights from Donald Mahler, a pulmonologist with extensive experience and expertise in COPD, based at Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont, New Hampshire, USA. The expert walks readers through the key considerations in COPD inhalation therapy.
By presenting device differences, challenges, and patient-specific factors in an accessible format, it creates a strong clinical grounding, helping HCPs quickly see why device choice matters and how it shapes patient outcomes.
Interactive Patient Case Study: Applying Theory in a Clinical Context
The interactive case study places readers in the centre of a realistic COPD scenario, reflecting the situations HCPs routinely manage in their day-to-day practice. Through step-by-step decision-making, readers explore symptom changes, technique issues, and treatment choices, seeing in real time how different approaches influence clinical outcomes.
The format encourages active learning, reflection, and quick application of the principles discussed in the article. It turns theory into practice, showing how device choice should match a patient’s abilities, physiology, and preferences.
The COPD Device Selection Tool: Clarity in Three Clicks
To support real-world consultations, the Device Selection Tool offers a streamlined way to identify suitable inhalation systems for individual patients. Using two simple parameters – PIF and cognitive/manual dexterity – the tool guides users to appropriate device options in just three clicks.
Additional pop-ups provide concise, clinically relevant explanations: advantages, limitations, and the “why” behind each recommendation. Accessible on laptop, tablet, or mobile, it is designed to fit seamlessly into clinical workflows without adding complexity.
The tool has already been well received by clinicians, with the client choosing to feature it at the European Respiratory Society Congress. Its ease of use and clear clinical value make it well suited for use in healthcare settings around the world.
A Connected Approach to Improving Care
While each resource stands alone, their value becomes even clearer together: the interactive article builds understanding, the case study demonstrates real-world implications, and the device selection tool supports confident decision-making in everyday practice.
