Healthy living psychology: improving adherence (study by Watt)

Approach: Cognitive

Aim: To assess the effect of adherence to prescribed asthma drugs if a 'fun-haler' or incentive toy

Method: Self report and physiological measures

Sample: Type of sample-not stated. 32 Australian children, 10 male and 22 female, mean age -3.2 years. Range 1-6. Average duration of asthma- 2 years, participants on prescribed drugs delivered by PMDI (paediotric metered dose inhaler) and spacer

Procedure: Medicine was administered using a standard inhaler for 2 weeks followed by the Funhaler for 2 weeks 

Results: 38% more patients were found to have used the medication on the prescribed period compared to the normal inhaler.

Discussion: The authors concluded that although no significant difference has been found in the medication delivery using the funhaler there was still marked improvements in the parental usage and the Children's effective use of the funhaler

Evaluation:

Sample

Advantage(A): covers both male and females who were 'experienced' asthmatics,

Disadvantage(D):quite young participants therefore the results cannot be generali:: to older people, only conducted in Australia and small sample size.

Validity:

(A): internal validity as the parental self reports were checked against the physiological measure of calculating volume of air inhaled by the child an the quantities of medication absorbed.

(D): subjective measure which would have been affected by demand characteristics. No qualitative data was gathered

Reliability:

(A): objective reliable physiological measure used. All patented completed a standardised self report. Quantative data.

(D): May not have gathered factual information-just what the parents could remember and it's hard for them to remember small tasks such as administering medicine.

Ethics:

(A): parents gVe informed consent. Anything which helps children medically is surely good for the protection of their health.

(D): Children were unable to give consent/withdraw from the study 

Usefulness:

(A): marked improvements in both parental usage and children's effective use of the funhaler, so it could lead to improved clinical outcomes and reduced morbidity from asthma

(D): only studied over a short time span so no idea about the long term effectiveness of the technique - it could have been novelty for both the kids and the parents therefore constant reinforcement may not be as effective