title: Tablet and inhaled controller medication refill frequencies in children with asthma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. anne.fitzpatrick@emory.edu
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kir
authors.forename: Luke P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Naeher
authors.forename: Stephanie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fuhrman
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: W Gerald
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Teague
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D013607:Tablets