title: Child- and caregiver-reported problems and concerns in using asthma medications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to (a) describe the types of medication problems/concerns that asthmatic children and their caregivers reported and (b) examine the association between child and caregiver demographic and sociocultural characteristics and reported asthma medication problems/concerns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children ages 8 through 16 with mild, moderate, or severe persistent asthma and their caregivers were recruited at five pediatric practices in nonurban areas of North Carolina. Children were interviewed and caregivers completed questionnaires after their child's medical visits about reported problems/concerns in using asthma medications. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and twenty children were recruited. Eighty-seven percent of the children reported a problem or concern in using their asthma medications. Approximately 40% of children reported side effects and a similar percent stated that it was hard to understand the directions on their medicines; in addition 60% reported that it was hard to remember when to take their medicines. Females and non-White children were significantly more likely to report they were not sure how to use an inhaler than males and White children. Younger and non-White children were significantly more likely to report it was hard to understand the directions on their medicines than older and White children. Caregivers were most likely to report that their children were bothered a little or a lot by side effects (31%) and a similar percent (29%) were not sure their children were using their inhalers properly. Caregivers without Medicaid were significantly more likely to report difficulty paying for the asthma medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication side effects are a significant problem area for both children and their caregivers, and inhaler skill-based training is particularly needed for non-White children. Health care providers should discuss with children and their caregivers the types of problems/concerns that children may have when using their asthma medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7573, USA. bsleath@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sleath
authors.forename: Guadalupe X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tudor
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yeatts
authors.forename: Deidre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillette
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009657:North Carolina; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents