Asthma Patients Favor SABA pMDIs Despite Sustainability Concerns

Key Takeaways

• Among Australian adults with asthma interviewed for this qualitative report, environmental sustainability mattered to many participants, yet access to fast-acting SABA pMDIs remained the priority because these inhalers were widely perceived as the most effective emergency option.
• Limited awareness of inhaler device types and environmental impact was reported, and many participants were surprised by pMDI emissions.
• In the predominantly female interviewed sample (91%), inhaler choice was strongly shaped by clinician recommendation, while cost, time, and rurality were linked to knowledge gaps and potential SABA overreliance.

A disconnect between sustainability concerns and continued preference for familiar reliever inhalers emerged in this qualitative PubMed report, which included 23 Australian adults who regularly used inhalers for asthma. Participants described fast-acting SABA pMDIs as reassuring and dependable during acute symptoms, with familiarity, psychological comfort, and concern about reliable relief reinforcing confidence in these devices. In this sample, those patient-reported priorities help explain why environmental concern alone did not appear to shift inhaler choices.

Asthma affects 300 million people worldwide, and the project explored patient perspectives on inhaler types, medication options, self-management, and environmental impact. Participants were recruited via consumer health networks, completed a pre-interview online survey on demographics, asthma history, and inhaler use, and then took part in semi-structured in-depth interviews that were analyzed thematically with an inductive framework. Together, those methods highlighted the practical concerns patients raised about switching device types.

Many participants reported relying heavily on health professional advice and having limited involvement in inhaler decision-making. Familiarity, habit, fear of exacerbations, and the need for reliable relief shaped treatment preferences, while cost, time, and rurality were linked to barriers in accessing care and information. Participants also described positive experiences with asthma care nurses and pharmacists, and a consumer panel helped shape interview materials and review findings and conclusions.

Clinician Questions

Why did adults with asthma in this Australian qualitative report continue to prefer fast-acting SABA pMDIs despite environmental concerns?

Among Australian adults with asthma interviewed for this qualitative report, many valued environmental sustainability but still prioritized fast-acting SABA pMDIs because these inhalers were seen by many as the most effective emergency treatment, and switching was hindered by familiarity, psychological comfort, and concern about reliable relief during acute asthma attacks.

What barriers to switching inhaler device types were reported among Australian adults with asthma?

Among Australian adults with asthma interviewed for this qualitative report, limited awareness of device types and environmental impact was reported, many participants were surprised by pMDI emissions, and barriers to switching included familiarity, psychological comfort, habit, and fear about losing reliable relief during acute symptoms.

How did clinician recommendation and access barriers influence inhaler choice in adults with asthma?

Among Australian adults with asthma interviewed for this qualitative report, health professional recommendation strongly influenced inhaler choice, most participants relied on clinician advice and reported limited involvement in decision-making, and cost, time, and rurality were linked to barriers in accessing care and information, contributing to knowledge gaps and potential SABA overreliance.