title: Importance of inhaler-device satisfaction in asthma treatment: real-world observations of physician-observed compliance and clinical/patient-reported outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is hypothesized that health and patient-reported outcomes in asthma are positively influenced by the level of patient satisfaction with their inhaler device. This paper uses data from a real-world observational study to investigate the extent of the relationship between inhaler satisfaction and patient compliance, and the influence this has on health and patient-reported outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from the Adelphi Respiratory Disease Specific Programme® (Adelphi, Macclesfield, UK), a cross-sectional study of consulting patients in five European countries undertaken between June and September 2009. A range of clinical and patient-reported outcomes were observed allowing analysis of these and their relationship with patient-reported inhaler satisfaction and patient compliance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis demonstrates that for the majority of patients the higher the level of satisfaction that the patient reports for their device the more likely the patient is observed to be compliant and to experience better outcomes including quality of life (as measured by EuroQol 5 Dimensions [EQ-5D] utility score, P<0.001), fewer exacerbations (P<0.001), fewer hospital visits (P=0.011), fewer healthcare visits (P=0.001), fewer primary care physician visits (P=0.001), and fewer sleep disturbances (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of patient satisfaction with their inhaler device is observed to have a positive influence on the treatment goals for asthma through its association with improved compliance.
authors.affiliation: Adelphi Mill, Adelphi Real World, Grimshaw Lane, Macclesfield, SK10 5JB, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fermer
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents