COMPLIANCE WITH THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH RESPIRATORY-DISEASES

Compliance with medical treatment was evaluated in 89 children and ado lescents with respiratory diseases using two methods of assessment: a double blinded covert recording of the use of an air compressor for ne bulization of drugs and the determination of theophylline levels in se rum. In the covert monitoring of inhalation the overall compliance wit h the prescribed medication was 47.6%. In the open randomized theophyl line trial, 56%-71% of the patients (according to uncontrolled or cont rolled intake of the drug) received a dosage of theophylline which was too low to achieve a sufficient serum level in the range of 10-20 mg/ l. This, however, was also due to the fact that in 72% of the cases ph ysicians prescribed doses which were substantially below the recommend ed amount of drug according to age and weight. It is, therefore, concl uded that compliance of medication is based on the patients adherence to the medication, to the efficacy of the drug itself and the attitude of the physician.