title: Adherence to treatment: assessment of an unmet need in asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In asthma, as in other chronic conditions, poor adherence to treatment and to medical advice is common and contributes to substantial worsening of the disease and increased health care costs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate patients' self-reported adherence to asthma medication regimens and to identify possible correlations between treatment adherence and depression, anxiety, and coping strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three asthmatic outpatients (27 men and 36 women; mean age +/- SD, 38.5 +/- 14.1) were consecutively enrolled during their routine control visit. Patients were asked to complete 3 different questionnaires: the Adherence Schedule in Asthma, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Coping Orientations to Problem Experienced questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression was detected in 32.3% of patients and anxiety in 34.9%. A negative correlation was found between older age and perception of family support (rho = -0.33). The presence of anxiety displayed a positive correlation with difficulty in accepting the illness (rho = 0.33) and a negative correlation with acceptance of illness limitations (p = -0.30); it was also positively correlated with fear of the side effects of medication (rho = 0.37). The presence of depression was negatively correlated with acceptance of illness limitations (rho = -0.32), knowledge of the illness (p = -0.29), and with ability to identify worsening signs (rho = -0.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows how different factors may modulate adherence to asthma treatment. The opportunity to identify reasons for nonadherence through a simple assessment will allow a tailored intervention to be planned for each patient.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, DIMI, Genoa University, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baiardini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Braido
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giardini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Majani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cacciola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogaku
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scordamaglia
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents