Inhalers: The importance of being blue

The UK Inhaler Group (UKIG), of which PCRS-UK is a member, is calling for an official ‘blue’ colour code convention to be introduced for inhaled reliever medications.

The UK Inhaler Group (UKIG), of which PCRS-UK is a member, is calling for an official ‘blue’ colour code convention to be introduced for inhaled reliever medications.

This follows a survey of 3,000 health care professionals and patients, conducted by UKIG, which found that using the ‘blue’ colour coding for reliever inhalers is important and straying away from this would be a potential patient safety issue.

The research, which won the Best Research abstract award at the PCRS-UK 2016 conference, is published today in npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine. 

Reliever inhalers, the ones used in an emergency for instant relief, are traditionally coloured blue.The survey revealed 89 per cent of patients and 95 per cent of healthcare professionals frequently refer to the colour when discussing reliever medication.

However, this remains an unofficial colour-coding system. With the increase in inhaler types available, there is concern that blue may be used for inhalers not designed for emergency relief, and other colours may be used for quick relief medications.

UKIG is concerned this could mean patients reach for the wrong inhaler in an emergency.UKIG is calling for all interested parties to agree a formal industry-wide approach to colour coding sothat in the future it would not be possible for a blue inhaler to obtain a licence unless it is a reliever and inhalers not for rapid symptom relief will not be licensed if they are blue.

Dr Duncan Keeley, GP in Thame and policy lead for the Primary Care Respiratory Society UK, says: 'Clear communication is important if clinicians and patients are going to work together to ensure thepatient's lung condition is as well controlled as possible. With so many different compounds in inhalers, and patients often having more than one inhaler, referring to inhalers by their colour isobviously very helpful.’

Action points:

• Consider how you discuss inhalers with patients in order that patients understand how to use different types of inhalers and get maximum benefit from them.

• Recognise that many patients, particularly those with COPD, may also value provision ofother descriptive information about their inhaled medicine, including the mode of action and generic/brand name.
• Read the UKIG research HERE:

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