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Multicenter Adherence Study of Asthma Medication for Children in Korea
Chang Keun Kim1, Zak Callaway2,3, Jungi Choi2
1Asthma and Allergy Center, Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea. kimck@paik.ac.kr.
Insights
Pediatric asthma medication adherence is better with transdermal patches compared to oral or inhaled options. Transdermal patches offer improved ease of use and potentially fewer doses for better long-term asthma control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Patient Adherence Studies
Background:
- Medication adherence is crucial for effective treatment, yet non-adherence remains a global healthcare challenge.
- Pediatric asthma management requires consistent medication use for optimal outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare medication adherence rates among children with mild to moderate asthma using different delivery systems.
- To evaluate patient and caregiver perceptions of ease of use for various asthma medication formats.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study involving 1,838 pediatric patients (0-18 years) with asthma across 20 Korean hospitals.
- Patients were receiving treatment via inhalants, oral intake, or transdermal patches.
- Data collected on adherence, ease of use, and preferred administration frequency.
Main Results:
- Transdermal patch users exhibited significantly higher adherence (67.42%) compared to oral (50.09%) and inhalant (38.04%) users (P < 0.001).
- Ease of use was rated highest for transdermal patches (93.00%), followed by oral medications (70.33%) and inhalants (34.15%) (P < 0.001).
- The method and frequency of administration were key factors influencing adherence, with a preference for once-daily dosing.
Conclusions:
- Transdermal patches demonstrate superior adherence and ease of use in pediatric asthma patients compared to oral and inhaled medications.
- The transdermal route may be a more effective strategy for long-term asthma control in children due to simplified administration.
- Addressing administration challenges and frequency is vital for improving overall pediatric asthma medication adherence.
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.
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