Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Did you know that inhalers, which are used to treat lung diseases like asthma, are contributing to climate change? People with chronic lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often use inhalers to prevent or manage their symptoms. They also use inhalers when their symptoms get worse and they have an 'attack' or 'flare-up'. There are many different types of inhalers and some of them are more harmful to the environment than others. Switching to inhalers that have a lower carbon footprint can reduce the health system's impact on climate change. Yet switching inhalers is not that simple. We must first understand the perspectives of people living with chronic lung disease and the providers who care for them. Are they worried about climate change? Do they know that some inhalers are harmful for the environment? Would they be willing to switch to an inhaler with a lower carbon footprint? If we truly want to enact change, we also need to develop tools that support shared decisions between patients and providers. These tools will encourage preferential use of inhalers with low carbon footprints. Our research will address these concerns. We will survey patients and doctors to understand their concerns about climate change. We will also check whether they know about the environmental impact of inhalers and would be willing to use inhalers with a lower carbon footprint. Lastly, we will develop a tool that educates doctors and patients about the carbon footprint of inhalers. This tool will help to promote eco-conscious prescribing. It will also raise awareness about the environmental impact of inhalers. Our research is impactful because it addresses one of the biggest threats to our health-climate change. It considers the perspective of the doctors who prescribe inhalers and the patients who use them. Ultimately, our goal is to reduce our carbon footprint by encouraging more sustainable practices in lung disease treatment.