Course Summary

Expiration Date: 08/21/2029

Inhaled therapies are central to the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, yet clinical effectiveness is often limited by factors beyond medication selection. Device mechanics, inhaler technique, adherence, and safety considerations directly influence airway drug delivery and treatment response. This activity reviews principles of inhaled drug deposition, device-specific pharmacology and counseling, adherence challenges, and safety monitoring across common respiratory therapies. Strategies for assessing response, managing transitions of care, and recognizing early clinical deterioration are also addressed to support safer, more effective long-term respiratory management.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Principles of Inhaled Drug Delivery and Airway Deposition
  • Device Pharmacology: How Delivery Systems Shape Drug Effect
    • Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhalers (pMDIs)
    • Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs)
    • Soft Mist Inhalers (SMIs)
    • Nebulized Therapies
    • Spacer and Holding Chamber Use
    • Why This Counseling Matters
  • Adherence in Asthma and COPD Management
    • Factors Influencing Adherence
    • Clinical Strategies to Support Adherence
  • Safety Considerations Across Respiratory Therapies
    • Inhaled Corticosteroid Safety
    • Bronchodilator Safety
    • Biologic Therapy Safety
  • Monitoring Response and Identifying Treatment Failure
  • Transitions of Care and System-Related Risks
  • Early Recognition of Clinical Deterioration
  • Journal Club: The Impact of Education on Inhaler Technique Errors in Asthma and COPD
    • Background
    • Statistical Analysis Context for Interpreting Results
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
  • Summary

Authors

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.

Luke Almos, PharmD

Luke Almos will be graduating from the University of Montana’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy in the spring of 2026. He has 3 years of experience in retail pharmacy, with interests in inpatient and ambulatory patient care. He has actively contributed to research and educational materials throughout his undergraduate education. His primary interests are metabolic disorders, anticoagulation management, and providing patient education. Luke’s primary goal is to help implement initiatives and provide education resulting in impactful patient care across all specialties.