Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2019 Mar;11(2):222-230. 10.4168/aair.2019.11.2.222.

Multicenter Adherence Study of Asthma Medication for Children in Korea

• Kim CK
• Callaway Z
• Choi J
• Kim HB
• Kwon EM
• Chang YS
• Rha YH
• Hong SJ
• Oh JW
• Kim HH
• Lim DH
• Kim SW
• Park KS
• Cho YH
• Chung HL
• Park HJ
• Jung SG
• Kang IJ
• Hyun MC
• Oh MY
• Jung JA
• Kim MS
• Shim JY
• Kim JT
• Koh YY
• KAPARD Work Group on Asthma Medication Compliance

• KMID: 2431854
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2019.11.2.222

Abstract

PURPOSE
Adherence is a major component of successful medical treatment. However, non-adherence remains a barrier to effective delivery of healthcare worldwide.
METHODS
Twenty healthcare facilities (secondary or tertiary hospitals) belonging to the Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Diseases (KAPARD) participated. Questionnaires were given to patients currently receiving treatment in the form of inhalant useor oral intake or transdermal patch for mild to moderate asthma.
RESULTS
A total of 1,838 patients responded to the questionnaire. Mean age was 5.98 ± 3.79 years (range: 0-18 years). With help from their caregivers, the percentage of patients that answered "taking as prescribed" was 38.04% for inhalant users, 50.09% for oral medication users and 67.42% for transdermal users. Transdermal patch users had significantly greater adherence compared to the other 2 groups (P < 0.001). The 34.15% of inhalant users, 70.33% of oral medication users and 93.00% of transdermal patch users felt that their medication delivery system was "Easy" or "Very easy" to use (P < 0.001). "Method of administration" was deemed to be the most difficult part of the treatment regimen to follow, and 76.7% of patients preferred once-daily administration (i.e., "Frequency of administration").
CONCLUSIONS
Asthma medication adherence in young children was found to be better in the transdermal patch group. This may be due to requiring fewer doses and easy to follow instructions. From an adherence point of view, the transdermal patch seems more useful for long-term asthma control in children compared to oral or inhaled medicine.

Keyword

Adherence; asthma; medication

MeSH Terms

Asthma*
Caregivers
Child*
Delivery of Health Care
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Korea*
Medication Adherence
Transdermal Patch

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Adherence. Answers to Question 1, “Are you currently taking all asthma medications as prescribed?”

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  Fig. 2 The most common medication prescribed. Answers to Question 2, “What is the most commonly prescribed medication during the 6-month study period?”

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  Fig. 3 Medication preference. (A) Inhalant users were asked, “Would you switch from inhaled medication to transdermal patch?” (Question 7). (B) Transdermal patch users were asked “Would you switch from transdermal patch to inhaled medication?” (Question 8).

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