Chaney

Conclusions

Aim

Sample

Research method

Procedure

Findings

To show that the use of a novel (new) asthma spacer device, the 'funhaler', which incorporates incentive toys, whilst not compromising drug delivery, can provide positive reinforcement which leads to improved adherence in young asthmatics

field experiment, conducted in the participants' home in Australia

Experimental design

repeated measures design

32 children (10 male, 22 female), aged 1.5-6 years, mean age 3.3 years. They were all from Australia. The average duration of asthma was 2.2 years.

IV: type of inhaler used by the child. The two conditions are:
-the childs standard spacer device
-the Funhaler

DV: was the amount of adherence to the prescribed medical regime

Funhaler Details

-It isolates incentive toys (e.g. spider and a whistle so they do not interfere with delivery of drug

-In order to make toys function properly the correct deep breathing technique must be used by the child

In the future, the toys could be replaced with new ones to reduce boredom

The design makes it appear as a 'toy' rather than a medical device

Procedure

the use of the functional incentive devices such as the funhaler may improve the health of children. However, more research is recommended in the long term efficacy of this treatment

Improved adherence , combined with satisfactory delivery characteristics, suggest that the Funhaler may be useful for management of young asthmatics

When surveyed at random, 81% of parents were found to have medicated their children the previous day when using the Funhaler, compared to 59% when using the normal spacer

80% children took the recommended four or more cycles per aerosol delivery when using the Funhaler, compared with 50% when using the standard spacer

Attitudes towards using the Funhaler were more positive than the standard inhaler. Children expressed more pleasure and less fear when using the Funhaler.

Using the Funhaler was associated with fewer problems for children e.g screaming when device was brought close to their face, unwillingness to breathe through device

3) Parents/children were then asked to use the Funhaler instead of their normal spacer for a two week period

4) During the course of the study each parent was called at random to find out if they had attempted to medicate their child the day before.

1) At the beginning of the study, a researcher visited parents at home and administered a questionnaire based on using the child's standard inhaler. Data was collected on:
-adherance to the recommended frequency and technique
-compliance of parents and children
-treatment attitudes
-problems associated with delivery of the medication

2) Parents could answer most questions by indicating ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or selecting the most appropriate answer from a predetermined set of responses

5) After two weeks of using the Funhaler the researcher visited again and administered the second questionnaire (to the same parent who responded to the first questionnaire). Both questionnaires were matched.