Clinical management strategies to maintain drug compliance in asthmatic children.
OBJECTIVE
Noncompliance with asthma medication is a common cause of treatment failure and may lead to unnecessary hospitalization and emergency care. This publication reviews factors associated with compliance with treatment regimens in general as well as with recommended asthma medications. General strategies (educational, organization, and behavioral) are reviewed with emphasis in behavioral strategies. These include reminders, tailoring, and contracting.


METHODS
A case report follows regarding a 9-year-old boy with severe asthma who was treated in a short-term inpatient asthma rehabilitation center and followed for 3 years as an outpatient. Specific clinical management strategies and techniques to maintain theophylline compliance are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
A systematic approach emphasizing the use of behavioral strategies and drug monitoring can be helpful in promoting compliance with a therapeutic regimen. This may lead to a reduction in pulmonary morbidity and medical costs.
Weinstein
A G
AG
Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Alfred I. duPont Institute, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013806:Theophylline