title: [Treatment compliance in asthma: a Tunisian transversal study].
abstract: As a chronic disease, asthma requires a continued treatment and poses the problem of compliance with medication. To study in a Tunisian population of asthmatics, the level of compliance and the factors affecting it, we included 190 adults with persistent asthma in a transversal study using a self-questionnaire. The mean age was 38.56 years. 2/3 of patients had medium or poor socioeconomic status. 1/3 had severe persistent asthma, progressing for 5 years in 68 % of case. All patients received inhaled corticosteroids; only 44 had high dosed corticosteroids. 29.5 % of patients were compliant with medication in our study. Omission and intentional negligence were the two main reasons for non-compliance. Level of compliance was positively related to socioeconomic status, urban way of life, hystory of hospitalization, high dosed corticosteroids and knowledge of their indication. We conclude that treatment compliance in asthma is very low. Further efforts should be made to improve compliance: by increasing the accessibility of medication and by the educational programs which should be a priority in the management of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Abderralitmen Mami - Ariana.
authors.forename: Maâlej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sonia
authors.forename: Drira
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ikram
authors.forename: Fakhfekh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Radhouane
authors.forename: Ben Kheder
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000730:Androstadienes; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D013806:Theophylline; D000068298:Fluticasone; D001507:Beclomethasone