Adherence in childhood asthma: the elephant in the room. Issue 10 (29th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morton, Robert W; Everard, Mark L; Elphick, Heather E
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 99:Issue 10(2014)
• Page Start: 949
• Page End: 953
• Publication Date: 2014-05-29
• Subjects: Child Psychology -- Respiratory; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306243
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Adherence to inhaled steroids is suboptimal in many children with asthma and can lead to poor disease control. Many previous studies in paediatric populations have used subjective and inaccurate adherence measurements, reducing their validity. Adherence studies now often use objective electronic monitoring, which can give us an accurate indication of the extent of non-adherence in children with asthma. A review of the studies using electronic adherence monitoring shows that half of them report mean adherence rates of 50% or below, and the majority report rates below 75%. Reasons for non-adherence are both intentional and non-intentional, incorporating illness perceptions, medication beliefs and practical adherence barriers. Interventions to improve adherence in the paediatric population have had limited success, with the most effective containing both educational and behavioural aspects.