A Review of Medication Compliance in Children with Asthma

Abstract

Asthma is the most frequently reported cause of disability in children, and the number of children afflicted with the disorder is on the rise: Between 1970 and 1984, the rate of hospitalizations for asthmatic children under 15 years of age increased by at least 145%. At the same time that more and more children are being hospitalized because of asthma, positive developments are occurring in asthma drug management. These developments should facilitate outpatient management and decrease the need for hospitalization. However, asthma remains the major diagnosis for children admitted to hospitals in the United States. This suggests that many asthmatic children do not benefit from improved medical treatment possibly because they do not comply with medication instructions. The present review explores three topics: (1) the prevalence of medication compliance in children with asthma, (2) methods of assessing compliance, and (3) strategies to increase medication compliance in children with asthma.