title: Knowledge of actions of inhaled corticosteroids in patients who did not persist drug treatment early.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, among new users of inhaled corticosteroids that did not persist treatment, knowledge of inhaled corticosteroids' actions and whether they were instructed on the use of their inhaler.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen community pharmacies in The Netherlands. Methods Patients were interviewed by telephone. Their general practitioners provided diagnostic information and automated dispensing records were retrieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knowledge of patients about the actions of inhaled corticosteroids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  230 (80.1%) of 287 patients were willing to participate. The majority (79.1%) of 230 patients was not aware of the anti-inflammatory actions of inhaled corticosteroids. Most patients were instructed on the use of their inhaler, predominantly by their physician (53%) or pharmacy (35.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most patients reported inhaler instruction by at least one health care provider, the majority was unaware of inhaled corticosteroids' actions. Physicians and pharmacists should reconsider the instructions they provide especially to patients who should continuously use inhaled corticosteroids.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tanja T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Menckeberg
authors.forename: Jacqueline G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hugtenburg
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lammers
authors.forename: Jan A M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Raaijmakers
authors.forename: Marcel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bouvy
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001364:Awareness; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009426:Netherlands; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents