Reasons for Non�Adherence in Bronchial Asthma

Caroline Simon; Ram Balkrishna Deoskar; Medha Deepak Bargaje; Anita Tulshiramji Anokar

Volume : VI, Issue : VI, June - 2016

Reasons for Non�Adherence in Bronchial Asthma

Caroline Simon, Ram Balkrishna Deoskar, Medha Deepak Bargaje, Anita Tulshiramji Anokar

Abstract :

 In order to evaluate adherence to treatment and reasons for non–adherence in patients with Bronchial Asthma coming to a tertiary care hospital in Pune, a prospective study of 100 adult Asthma cases over a duration of 18 months with a follow–up period of 6 months was undertaken. There were 52 males and 48 females. 73% were non–adherent and 27% were adherent. Males (84.61%) were non–adherent as compared to females (60.41%), the most common reason being that they felt better on treatment and underestimated the severity of asthma (50.68%). Other reasons were forgetfulness/complacency toward treatment, distance of the hospital being too far, drugs being expensive, awkward regimes and side effects. 81.25% of the 88.09% patients who were diagnosed and put on treatment outside had wrong techniques. Adherence remains a major problem in the management of asthma. To improve adherence, there is a need for education of both patients and general practitioners.