PRESCRIPTION OF BRONCHODILATOR DRUGS BY PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE PHYSICIANS IN ASTHMA

Abstract

With the purpose of estimating the use of bronchodilators in asthma management as prescribed by primary health physicians (PHCP) in Greece, 62 PHCP answered a questionnaire about the manner of choice of treatment, the person who trained the patients in the use of inhalers, and the pharmacological treatment. 65% of PHCP selected the treatment according to the pulmonologist's recommendations and 34% by themselves. 26% of the PHCP trained their patients in the use of inhalers, and 40% considered that it was done by another physician. Forty-three physicians used adrenergic inhalers as the first choice of medicine. The second most popular medicine in asthma management is theophylline tablets (15% of all medicines). Consequently, PHCP in Greece frequently select asthma treatment according to the pulmonologist's recommendations, and consider that another physician has trained the patients how to use the inhalers. They frequently prescribe adrenergic inhalers, theophylline tablets and corticosteroid inhalers.