Asthma care and factors affecting medication compliance: the patient's point of view

Abstract

Objective: To identify important factors that can influence patient compliance with prescribed medication and to elucidate aspects of asthma care from the patient's point of view.

Design: Field investigation; the interviewer used a semi-structured questionnaire.

Setting: Patients with asthma in primary health care settings in Sweden.

Study participants: A sample of 77 patients was randomly selected from 11 primary health care centres in southern Sweden; 63 of these patients participated in the study.

Conclusion: The factors of importance for self-reported compliance with prescribed medication were age, gender, duration of the disease, the attitude of the staff and information/education about asthma. The patients expressed important aspects of care, and these are in accordance with how an asthma nurse practice functions in Sweden.