Association between health literacy, inhaler technique and disease control in obstructive airway disease

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The association of health literacy with compliance, inhaler technique and disease control with respect to both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is poorly addressed. We examined the association between health literacy, inhaler technique and disease control in patients suffering from obstructive lung disease in Trinidad. DESIGN AND METHODS: The method was a cross-sectional study which employed 781 patients from Chest Clinics in Trinidad (Arima Health Facility, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Port of Spain and San Fernando General Hospitals). Out-patients were interviewed on a pilot tested questionnaire for information on compliance and disease control. Morisky 8- item Medication Adherence Questionnaire, Asthma Control Test (ACT), and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) were used to assess compliance, asthma and COPD control respectively. Health literacy was assessed using Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine – short form (REALM- SF), and inhaler technique was observed on dummies.