TY - JOUR
T1 - “It is kind of like a responsibility thing”
T2 - transitional challenges in asthma medication adherence among adolescents and young adults
AU - Zaeh, Sandra E.
AU - Lu, Monica A.
AU - Blake, Kathryn V.
AU - Ruvalcaba, E.
AU - Ayensu-Asiedu, Christabelle
AU - Wise, Robert A.Wise
AU - Holbrook, Janet T.
AU - Eakin, Michelle N
N1 - Funding Information:
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 5R01HL136945, T32HL007534-36, T32HL072748-18, and F32HL149195-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Objective: Nonadherence to asthma medications is prevalent among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with asthma, leading to worsened control of asthma symptoms and more frequent exacerbations. AYAs have unique developmental transitional challenges that may alter medication adherence. We aimed to use a socio-ecological framework to explore the effect of transitional challenges from adolescence to young adulthood on asthma controller medication adherence and to identify possible strategies to promote medication adherence. Methods: We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews by phone with 7 adolescents (14 to 17 years), their respective caregivers, and 7 young adults (18 to 30 years). Participants were recruited from a respiratory clinical trial network and pulmonary clinics in 4 states at 6 different sites through convenience sampling. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and coded using thematic analyses. Results: Participants identified personal challenges affecting adherence to asthma medications during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood including responsibility for asthma self-management, understanding of asthma condition and severity, embarrassment, and life demands. Health systems factors including medication cost, challenges with insurance, difficulties obtaining refills, and difficulty with access to medications at school also impacted asthma medication adherence. Participants recommended adherence strategies including improved access to inhalers, incorporating asthma medications into daily routines, and using reminders. Conclusions: Focusing on the transitional challenges of AYAs during the time period from adolescence to young adulthood is necessary for supporting their asthma medication adherence and creating future interventions. Socio-ecological and systems factors should also be targeted for improved asthma medication adherence. Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2021.1897836.
AB - Objective: Nonadherence to asthma medications is prevalent among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with asthma, leading to worsened control of asthma symptoms and more frequent exacerbations. AYAs have unique developmental transitional challenges that may alter medication adherence. We aimed to use a socio-ecological framework to explore the effect of transitional challenges from adolescence to young adulthood on asthma controller medication adherence and to identify possible strategies to promote medication adherence. Methods: We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews by phone with 7 adolescents (14 to 17 years), their respective caregivers, and 7 young adults (18 to 30 years). Participants were recruited from a respiratory clinical trial network and pulmonary clinics in 4 states at 6 different sites through convenience sampling. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and coded using thematic analyses. Results: Participants identified personal challenges affecting adherence to asthma medications during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood including responsibility for asthma self-management, understanding of asthma condition and severity, embarrassment, and life demands. Health systems factors including medication cost, challenges with insurance, difficulties obtaining refills, and difficulty with access to medications at school also impacted asthma medication adherence. Participants recommended adherence strategies including improved access to inhalers, incorporating asthma medications into daily routines, and using reminders. Conclusions: Focusing on the transitional challenges of AYAs during the time period from adolescence to young adulthood is necessary for supporting their asthma medication adherence and creating future interventions. Socio-ecological and systems factors should also be targeted for improved asthma medication adherence. Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2021.1897836.
KW - Qualitative research
KW - adherence
KW - adolescents and young adults
KW - medication use
KW - self management
KW - socio-ecologic framework
KW - systems barriers
KW - transitional challenges
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U2 - 10.1080/02770903.2021.1897836
DO - 10.1080/02770903.2021.1897836
M3 - Article
C2 - 33653199
AN - SCOPUS:85102932219
SN - 0277-0903
VL - 59
SP - 956
EP - 966
JO - Journal of Asthma
JF - Journal of Asthma
IS - 5
ER -