@article {Sovani:1 January 2008:0960-1643:37,
	author = "Sovani, Milind P",
	author = "Whale, Christopher I",
	author = "Oborne, Janet",
	author = "Cooper, Sue",
	author = "Mortimer, Kevin",
	author = "Ekstrom, Tommy",
	author = "Tattersfield, Anne E",
	author = "Harrison, Timothy W",
	title = "Poor adherence with inhaled corticosteroids for asthma: can using a single inhaler containing budesonide and formoterol help?",
	journal = "British Journal of General Practice",
	volume = "58",
	year = "1 January 2008",
	abstract = "<B>Background</B> <P></P>Poor adherence with inhaled corticosteroids is an important problem in asthma management. Previous approaches to improving adherence have had limited success. <P></P><B>Aim</B> <P></P>To determine whether treatment with a single inhaler containing a long-acting &#946;<SUB>2</SUB>-agonist and a corticosteroid for maintenance treatment and symptom relief can overcome the problem of poor adherence with inhaled corticosteroids. <P></P><B>Design of study</B> <P></P>Randomised, parallel group, open-label trial. <P></P><B>Setting</B> <P></P>Forty-four general practices in Nottinghamshire. <P></P><B>Method</B> <P></P>Participants who used less than 70% of their prescribed dose of inhaled corticosteroid and had poorly controlled asthma were randomised to budesonide 200 &#956;g one puff twice daily plus their own short-acting &#946;<SUB>2</SUB>-agonist as required (control group), or budesonide/formoterol 200/6 &#956;g one puff once daily and as required (active group) for 6 months. The primary outcome was inhaled corticosteroid dose. <P></P><B>Results</B> <P></P>Seventy-one participants (35 control, 36 active group) were randomised. Adherence with budesonide in the control group was approximately 60% of the prescribed dose. Participants in the active group used approximately 80% more budesonide than participants in the control group (448 versus 252 &#956;g/day, mean difference 196 &#956;g, 95% confidence interval 113 to 279; <I>P</I>&#60;0.001) and were less likely to withdraw from the study (3 versus 13; <I>P</I>&#60;0.01). No safety issues were identified. <P></P><B>Conclusion</B> <P></P>Using a single inhaler for both maintenance treatment and symptom relief approximately doubled the dose of inhaled corticosteroid taken, suggesting this could be a useful strategy to overcome the problems related to poor adherence with inhaled corticosteroids.",
	pages = "37-43(7)",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/rcgp/bjgp/2008/00000058/00000546/art00010"
	doi = "doi:10.3399/bjgp08X263802"
}