Adherence survey

<message removed by moderators. All research requests need to be vetted by Asthma UK, as per the terms and conditions. Please do not post the same message multiple times>

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Haven't you already posted this?

Not sure whether this breaks forum rules or not?

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I've already taken part in a survey asking the same thing by students at my local hospital so won't do this in case it's the same and I confuse things!

Out of interest, is this a major problem? Are there many severe asthmatics who don't bother taking their medication? The reason I ask is that I have recently been quizzed repeatedly about this by doctors who think the reason I must be ill is because I'm not taking my meds. I take everything exactly as prescribed and whilst I can understand being asked once, by the fifth time of asking, I'm getting quite upset by it because it feels like the doctors are trying to blame me rather than find a cause for my medical issues. If adherence to taking medication is a major problem, I would be able to understand and accept this line of questionning a little more but I find it amazing that any severe asthmatic like myself would choose to make themselves ill by not taking their meds?

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Ratty - so nice to find out it's not just me.

I am getting more than a bit fed up by being quizzed about this. It has made me feel too that my doctors don't believe me and think that I'm not taking my meds.

Maybe I'm a bit touchy about it in consequence but I do find it very upsetting to think that people would imagine that I wouldn't be taking meds prescribed for a condition and one which I am struggling to control.

Fee

[Asthmababe]

Fee & Ratty - I am so glad there are others who get quizzed about if they are taking their medication. I too am getting really fed up and upset that the doctors don't believe that I am taking my meds. Do they really think that I want to be struggling to breathe and in and out of hospital every few days. I do want to have a life outside of having asthma and be able to go out with friends without having to worry about where the nearest hospital is!

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I knew it - this DOES breach the terms and conditions of the board on a number of points.

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Yes, it does. Thanks Fee Jay.

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I have to say that I'm 'flexible' about my medications! There are some that are non-negotiable (prednisolone, and the rest of my asthma meds, for example), but others that are prescribed for me to take regularly (e.g. paracetamol), which I sometimes take too few times per day, or sometimes not at all. I know this isn't how my doctors want things to be, and that they prescribe medications regularly for a reason, but I feel very much more in control of things if I can occasionally miss a dose! For some reason, it really does make me feel better, and as though I have some sort of say in the whole business.

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I'd not seen the survey, but they do crop up now and again on here, and how much trouble is it to ask if it's ok.

On another note the number of people who do fail to adhere to the guidelines for taking their meds is actually quite shocking, many don't use them correctly just taking the odd puff now and again, or not waiting long enough between puffs etc. I wonder if some just take them and the research i saw yesterday on the placebo effect is what actually works for some, Placebo effect and Asthma tinyurl.com/5sdyt3q

And BTW, i do know many on here do have severe asthma and rely on their meds, and I'm one of those, struggled this winter and change of meds and now back up where I'm happy.

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I filled in the questionnaire. Did it on one of my sleepless nits. So god help them as they try to understand my answers....... Think I ended up doing a wee pattern..... Plus I take all my medication without fail and known to get stroppy when inpatient as it knocks my times out...

[Skee-skee]

I have got annoyed with doctors who think that you end up in hospital because you haven't taken your meds or not started steroids when your peak flow dropped. I find a lot of junior doctors who don't know you start off with this line of questionning and then change tack. I have to admit I sometimes find it difficult to be polite.

I think that people not taking their meds or possibly just running out must be quite common. I took part in that magnesium trial and the research nurse told me that I was one of the few who had actually taken their meds properly and didn't smoke! I've only met one person in hospital who was like that, she only took symbicourt but had run out a few weeks previously and she also smoked! I don't understand it because why would you do that because if you took your meds properly you would feel so much better and your asthma wouldn't get in the way.

[angievere]

I dont mind filling in surveys if it helps a student (or anyone), but they should check with AUK first that it's ok to post.