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31 October 2003

Medicines education could save lives

Better patient understanding of asthma medication could save lives, according to a new report. A government-commissioned study by the Medicines Partnership has suggested that poor knowledge of how drugs and inhalers work, coupled with complex prescribing regimes, are contributory factors in up to half of the 1,400 fatal cases of asthma in the UK each year.

'Non-compliance' with treatment – where patients do not follow GPs' instructions about taking medication – is a huge problem, says the report, which includes a chapter on the specific issues around asthma medication, written in consultation with the National Asthma Campaign.

An estimated 1.5 million people with asthma follow their prescriptions only a third of the time, with under-16s the least likely to follow treatment instructions. In the worst case, this can result in death, and for thousands of people it means a decrease in quality of life because symptoms that are not under control interfere with daily activities.

Among people with asthma the most typical example of non-compliance is under-use of preventer medication, which can lead to over-use of reliever inhalers and in some cases, asthma attacks and emergency hospital admissions.

The most common reasons for not following guidelines are people not understanding their condition or their treatment, forgetting to take medicines or being in denial that they have asthma. Patients may also neglect their medication because they fear side-effects, because they have to take frequent doses, or because treating their asthma involves several types of medicines.

Following the report, National Asthma Campaign experts set out steps that people with asthma should take to ensure they are on top of their treatment:

• Ask about treatment: the Campaign has produced a checklist of questions to ask GPs or asthma nurses
• Check your inhaler technique using the demonstration on the Campaign website
• Download or send off for a personal asthma plan
• Make regular appointments with your GP or asthma nurse for review
• Call the Asthma UK Adviceline and speak to a trained specialist asthma nurse

'Having asthma can be frightening if you don't know what's happening or what to do about it,' said Anne Pearson, a specialist asthma nurse on the Campaign's Asthma UK Adviceline. 'It's important that people understand what is going on in their body during an asthma attack and that they can recognise and treat their symptoms.

'Patients should have their medicines explained to them and know how to use their inhalers properly,' she added. 'If you're not sure about your inhaler technique, you can watch a demonstration on our website.'

Check your inhaler technique.

Ask your GP the right questions.

Download a personal asthma plan.

Call the Asthma UK Adviceline (08457 01 02 03) or email an asthma specialist nurse.

Read the report, 'A question of choice: Compliance in medicine taking'