title: A real-life study on acquired skills from using an adrenaline autoinjector.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Training programs performed by allergists have increased the ability of patients' recognition and management of anaphylaxis. We aim to investigate the permanence of effect of an anaphylaxis training program and to determine the factors affecting it beyond training given by allergists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children and/or their caregivers who had been prescribed an adrenaline autoinjector at least 1 year before were invited to take part in the study. The knowledge about anaphylaxis was assessed using a questionnaire and the skills were practically tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four (50 caregivers/14 children >12 years of age) of 80 patients who accepted the invitation were included in the study. Fifty-nine patients obtained the autoinjector after initial prescription. Among them, 42 (71%) still had the device at the time of the study. The most common reason for not having the autoinjector was no longer feeling it was necessary (54.6%). Of the cases, 39.4% were competent in autoinjector use. There was a significant relation between adrenaline autoinjector competency and regular allergy visits (p = 0.010), believing that it is necessary (p = 0.04), having an adrenaline autoinjector (p = 0.003), and previous history of severe anaphylaxis (p = 0.010). Autoinjector competency score decreased as time elapsed from the last visit (rho = -0.382; p = 0.002) and the first instruction (rho = -0.317; p = 0.01). Regular visits (p = 0.009) and history of severe anaphylaxis (p = 0.007) were found as independent factors having an effect on adrenaline autoinjector competency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training of patients/caregivers by allergists does not guarantee the permanence of acquired skills on anaphylaxis in the long run. Regular follow-up visits should be fostered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Allergy and Asthma, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. erdemtopal44 @ gmail.com
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Topal
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakirtas
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ilbilge Hacer
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Ertoy
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arga
authors.forename: Mehmet Sadik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Demirsoy
authors.forename: Ipek
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Turktas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004493:Education; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007267:Injections / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012646:Self Administration; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D004837:Epinephrine