Assessing adherence and factors associated with adherence in young children with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
Adherence with preventive asthma medication by young children is an important factor when evaluating a suboptimal response to treatment. However, few data exist regarding the accuracy of subjective measures of adherence and factors associated with adherence in young children.


METHODS
Fifty-one asthmatic children aged 18 months to 7 years had their use of preventive asthma medication monitored using an electronic monitoring device (Smartinhaler) for 1 month. At a follow-up visit the child's parent was asked how often medication had been given and they also completed a confidential questionnaire that included questions about medication usage, barriers to optimal adherence and parenting. The treating physician made an estimate of the child's likely use of medication.


RESULTS
The median use of medication as determined by the Smartinhaler was 70.5% (range 21.4-100%). The parents' verbal reports (85.1%) and questionnaire responses (84.2%) overestimated medication usage. The physician was not able to determine which parents correctly estimated their child's use of medication (P = 0.28). The child's age, level of parental education and annual family income did not influence adherence. Parents reported simply 'forgetting' or their child's 'reaction to being given medication' as the principal barriers to adherence. There was a significant association between how stressful the parent found parenting and adherence (P = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence with preventive medication, even within the context of a research study, was generally low and highly variable. Subjective measures of adherence were found to overestimate adherence in young asthmatics.
Burgess
Scott W
SW
Department of Paediatrics, Redland Hospital, Cleveland, Queensland, Australia. scott_burgess@health.qld.gov.au
Sly
Peter D
PD
Morawska
Alina
A
Devadason
Sunalene G
SG
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents