Tablet and inhaled controller medication refill frequencies in children with asthma.
Poor medication adherence is an important problem in children with asthma. This study compared prescription refill frequencies between tablet and inhaled medications in children aged 3 to 18 years with mild (n = 45) and moderate (n = 52) persistent asthma over 4 months. Refill frequencies were higher for tablet versus inhaled medications in both groups (mild: 69% vs. 31%, p = .02; moderate: 55% vs. 41%, p = .03). Refills peaked at the first month and incrementally declined (p < .05). Expanded asthma education did not increase refill frequency. Other methods of improving medication adherence may be warranted in this population.
Fitzpatrick
Anne M
AM
Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. anne.fitzpatrick@emory.edu
Kir
Tayfun
T
Naeher
Luke P
LP
Fuhrman
Stephanie C
SC
Hahn
Kimberly
K
Teague
W Gerald
WG
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013607:Tablets; D016903:Drug Monitoring
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D013607:Tablets