Assessment of Adequate use of Asthma Inhalational Medication Administration in Children in Gondar University Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma and other chronic airway diseases can be effectively treated by inhaler therapy. Inhaler therapy depends on appropriate use of the inhaler. For asthma, inhalation therapy is the foundation of treatment. Yet all too often, patients do not get the full value of their inhaled medications because they use their inhaler incorrectly. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge among asthmatic children and their parents regarding asthma inhaler therapy and appropriateness of its use. Method: Cross-sectional study was conducted on assessment of adequate use of asthma inhalational medication in children. Results: Sixty one asthmatic children were involved in the study with a mean age of 4.67 + 3.69 years; 35 (57.4%) were males and 26 (42.6%) were females. Of 61 asthmatic children 44 (72.1%) were preschool children, 32 (52.5%) asthmatic children were living in a number of family 1-5, 28 (45.9%) were living in a family number of 5-10 and only 1 (1.6%) lived in a family number of gt;10. Nineteen (31.1%) asthmatic children had a family history of asthma.