Medication beliefs, adherence, and outcomes in people with asthma: The importance of treatment beliefs in understanding inhaled corticosteroid nonadherence—a retrospective analysis of a real-world data set
Amy Hai Yan Chan, Caroline Brigitte Katzer, James Pike, Mark Small, Rob Horne
Abstract
Background: Poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) increases asthma morbidity and mortality and is influenced by patients' treatment beliefs. This study maps patients' beliefs about ICSs across 6 countries examining variations in beliefs, and their relationship with adherence and outcomes. Objective: We sought to explore the relationship between patient treatment beliefs, and adherence and outcomes in asthma across 6 countries. Methods: Patients 18 years or older with asthma, receiving ICS alone or in combination with a long-acting β2-agonist, were included from a point-in-time paper survey of patients with asthma in Europe and the United States. Clinical characteristics, such as adherence and asthma control, were collected by self- and physician-report. Patients completed the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, adapted for ICSs. Relationships between patient treatment beliefs, adherence, and outcomes were examined using regression analyses. Results: < .001). Conclusions: ICS necessity beliefs and concerns were associated with adherence and asthma control. This has implications for the design of adherence interventions.