Nebulisers or spacers for the administration of bronchodilators to those with asthma attending emergency departments?

Systematic reviews and national guidelines conclude that the nebulised route of administration of bronchodilators has no advantage over the use of a spacer in moderately severe exacerbations of asthma. Whether this recommendation is implemented and whether it might affect use of staff time is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the current method of administration of bronchodilators to those with non-life-threatening asthmaattendingemergency departments (ED) in London, UK and to monitor the implementation of a new policy to administer bronchodilators by spacers in one ED with a special reference to the time taken by nurses to administer the therapy by two different routes.