Abstract

DIETZ SANCHEZ, Edid  and  CABRERA DE FIANDRO, Graciela. Acceptance of the Use of Holding Chambers. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2011, vol.38, n.1, pp.45-48. ISSN 1683-9803.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The latest recommendations of scientific publications, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and European consensus all agree that the best way to administer salbutamol is as an aerosol due to its effectiveness, more direct action, greater convenience, and reduced side effects. However, not all patients, including some health professionals, accept their use due to cultural reasons, beliefs, or due to being out of date or reluctant to try innovations. What is recommended by science is not always accepted and incorporated into daily practice by patients or healthcare professionals. Objective: To obtain an objective estimate of the acceptability of aerosol salbutamol by the mothers of patients with wheezing or asthma. Methodology: A descriptive observational study carried out by surveying mothers of patients who are using or who have used salbutamol as a bronchodilator. The survey was carried out between July 1 and August 31, 2010 on patients attending the clinic. Results: The survey was completed by 102 mothers of patients, with children ranging from age 0 to 11 years with a mean age of 3 years. Salbutamol was used as aerosol by 79.4% of patients, as syrup by 65.7%, and in a mist by 72.5%. Asked which seems better, 72% cited salbutamol aerosol with a holding chamber, 19% syrup, and 9% the mists. Asked if someone had told them the aerosol causes addiction, 40.6% said someone had, with 50% citing a neighbor, 12.5% a relative, 10.4% a nurse, 8.3% a pediatrician, and 15.7% a general practitioner. Asked if they believe it causes addiction, 12.9% said they did, and 76.8% said they would recommend the use of holding chambers. Conclusion: A majority of respondents accepts the use of aerosol as the best way to administer salbutamol, while 28% do not accept aerosols. A notable number of mothers (34.4%) reported being discouraged from the use of aerosol by health professionals. The syrup has a certain acceptance, with better acceptance by the child and better effectiveness being cited as reasons. Popular beliefs about how to administer salbutamol are influential, which highlights the disconnection between scientific evidence and acceptance by the patient or patient’s parents and the medical personnel applying bronchodilator therapy with salbutamol.

Keywords : Patient acceptance of health care; aerosol holding chambers; bronchodilators; acceptance; salbutamol inhaler; bronchodilator therapy; beta-agonists; asthma; bronchial obstruction; bronchiolitis.

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