Background and objective
Measuring adherence to inhaled asthma treatment is a key priority for asthma care. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between self‐report and actual medication use as measured by electronic monitoring for single and combination inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long‐acting beta‐agonist (LABA) metered‐dose inhaler therapy.
Methods
In this retrospective analysis from a previously completed prospective 24‐week randomized, controlled trial of single or combination ICS/LABA therapy, medication use in the week prior to study visits determined by self‐report questionnaire and electronic monitoring was compared.
Results
For single and combination ICS/LABA therapy, self‐report consistently overestimated actual inhaler use assessed by electronic monitoring by a mean of 2.2–8.4 inhalations over a 1‐week period, with limits of agreement ranging from ±15.8 to 25.6 inhalations.
Conclusions
Self‐report is inaccurate in measuring actual use of inhaled asthma treatment with patients who underuse their maintenance therapy overreporting their use and those who overuse their therapy underreporting their use.
