ORIGINAL ARTICLE Funhaler spacer: improving adherence without compromising delivery

A novel asthma spacer device, the “Funhaler”, incorpo-rates incentive toys which are isolated from the main inspiratory circuit by a valve. Here we show that its use does not compromise drug delivery. Improved adherence combined with satisfactory delivery characteristics suggest that the Funhaler may be useful for management of young asthmatics. Poor adherence to prescribed frequency and techniqueremains a major problem for paediatric asthmatics oninhaled medication. Rates of compliance for offering medication regularly to asthmatic children range from 30 % to 70%, while paediatric compliance rates for correct pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) technique range from 39 % to 67%.1–6 Unfortunately, adherence does not necessarily improve with rising severity of illness,7–9 and physicians do not always judge patient adherence accurately.10 Unfortunately drug deposition studies have shown tha