Treatment adherence among low-income children with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the adherence behaviors (MDI use, MDI/spacer technique, appointment attendance, smoking in the home) of low-income, urban, primarily African American children with asthma.


METHODS
Participants were 55 children ages 6 to 17 with moderate to severe asthma. Adherence to MDI anti-inflammatory agents was estimated primarily from canister weight at the follow-up appointment.


RESULTS
The mean use of MDI medication was 44% of prescribed use, with 27% of subjects demonstrating MDI/spacer technique likely to prevent drug delivery. Almost half reported that household members smoked cigarettes, and 21% missed scheduled follow-up appointments.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings have implications for how clinicians should assess and improve adherence.
Celano
M
M
Emory University School of Medicine, USA. mcelano@emory.edu
Geller
R J
RJ
Phillips
K M
KM
Ziman
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D017835:Nedocromil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014481:United States
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D017835:Nedocromil; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D001507:Beclomethasone; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium