Barriers to Adherence to Asthma Controller Meds in Low Income Urban Minority Adolescents

Qualitative Analysis of the Barriers to Adherence With Asthma Controller Medication Among Inner City African American Adolescents as Identified Through Focus Group Data

Poor adherence to appropriate asthma medications is an important risk factor contributing to high asthma morbidity and mortality in urban African American adolescents. As part of the ADEPT (Adolescent Disease Empowerment and Persistency Technology) for Asthma Pilot 2 study, a focus group was developed specifically to explore existing barriers to adherence among inner city African American adolescent asthmatics.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 12-18 years of age
• self identify as African American
• have persistent asthma
• read at a minimum fourth grade reading level
• be on a prescribed daily inhaled corticosteroid medication for asthma

Exclusion Criteria:

• candidate refusal or presence of other co-morbidities