Beliefs and barriers to medication use in parents of Latino children with asthma

Abstract

Summary Objective Disparities in asthma outcomes exist between Latino and non-Latino white (NLW) children. We examined rates of medication use, medication beliefs, and perceived barriers to obtaining medication in US and island Puerto Rican parents of children with asthma Hypotheses Island PR parents would report the lowest rates of controller medication use, followed by RI Latino and RI NLW parents; Latino parents would report more medication concerns than NLW parents; and Island PR parents would report the most barriers to medication use. Study Design Five hundred thirty families of children with persistent asthma participated, including 231 Island PR, 111 RI NLW, and 188 RI Latino. Parents completed survey measures. Results Group differences were found on reported use of ICS (X2 = 50.96, P <0.001), any controller medication (X2 = 56.49, P <0.001), and oral steroids (X2 = 10.87, P <0.01). Island PR parents reported a greater frequency of barriers to medication use than the other two groups (X2 = 61.13, P <0.001). Latino parents in both sites expressed more medication concerns than NLW parents (F = 20.18, P <0.001). Medication necessity was associated with ICS use in all three groups (all P’s <0.01). Medication concerns were positively associated with ICS use in PR only (OR = 1.64, P <0.05). Conclusions Differences in medication beliefs and the ability to obtain medications may explain the reported disparity in controller medication use. Further studies are needed to evaluate these obstacles to medication use.

Treatment perceptions in patients with asthma: Synthesis of factors influencing adherence

“…However, there is a possibility that the generalisability of our findings may be limited as no data were found around how perceptions may vary between and within different social groups (e.g. [83]). Methods of adherence reporting also varied between studies, which limited direct comparisons between studies.…”

Parental Numeracy and Asthma Exacerbations in Puerto Rican Children

“…There is a suboptimal use of ICS in children with asthma and widespread use of systemic steroids in Puerto Rico, especially in children without private or employer-based insurance (due to a current health-care policy that makes providers directly fi nancially responsible for medications costs, a major barrier to the use of relatively expensive medications such as ICS). [33][34][35] Our study has considerable strengths, including the use of a multistage probability sampling design for subject recruitment and a sample size that is larger than that of any previous study of health literacy and childhood asthma. We also recognize several limitations to our fi ndings.…”

Medication Adherence Among Latino and Non-Latino White Children With Asthma

“…14,15 Island PR caregivers may encounter additional barriers to filling prescriptions relative to mainland Latino and NLW. 16 Parent psychopathology, particularly maternal depression, has also been associated with reported problems with inhaler technique and consistent medication usage, 17 as well as greater health care use among children. 18,19 Family factors are also relevant; organization surrounding medication routines has been associated with higher medication adherence.…”