DRUG-DELIVERY AND THE HUMAN FACTOR

The development of new inhaled asthma therapies commonly entails rigor ous testing of both pharmaceuticals and the technical characteristics of the various devices to be used. However, the patient - the final cu stomer - is the vital human factor in the decision whether the drug is used or not. Despite enormous financial and intellectual investment i n new therapies, this human factor is often overlooked, and patient co mpliance remains a problem. It is essential that doctors are aware of this 'human factor' if optimal patient self-management is to be achiev ed.