Adherence to Inhalation Therapy May Improve Quality of Life in COPD Patients

Adherence to inhalation therapy may contribute to adherence with overall therapeutic regimens and improved health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That is according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

While critical in the success of COPD management, adherence to inhalation therapy is not common among COPD patients. Further, very little is known about the relationship between medication adherence and quality of life in COPD. With that in mind, researchers out of Japan conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 88 COPD patients using a self-reported adherence questionnaire with responses on a 5-point Likert scale. The purpose of the study was to assess both the factors that contribute to adherence to inhalation therapy and their correlation with quality of life.

The results demonstrate that the only significant factor associated with overall adherence to medication therapy was repeated instruction about inhalation techniques. Of the 55 respondents with usable responses, 22 received repeated verbal instruction and/or demonstrations of inhalation techniques from their respiratory physician. Patients with repeated instruction reported better quality of life scores.

Significant correlations were also found between the overall adherence score and the health-related quality-of-life score, demonstrating that adherence may have a positive effect on overall health.

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