Beliefs surrounding the use of inhaled asthma medication in The Gambia: a qualitative study of asthma patients and healthcare workers.

Journal article

Jayasooriya, S, Inoue, M, Allen, H, Bojang, M, Ceesay, A, Touray, S, Cooper, R, Mortimer, K and Balen, J 2024. Beliefs surrounding the use of inhaled asthma medication in The Gambia: a qualitative study of asthma patients and healthcare workers. npj: Primary Care Respiratory Medicine. 34 (1), p. 29. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-024-00390-x
AuthorsJayasooriya, S, Inoue, M, Allen, H, Bojang, M, Ceesay, A, Touray, S, Cooper, R, Mortimer, K and Balen, J
AbstractAsthma-related mortality is high in low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about public perceptions of inhaled medicines. We conducted semi-structured interviews with asthma patients and healthcare workers at three secondary care facilities in The Gambia, between August and November 2022. Thematic analysis was used to interpret these data. A total of 20 patients and 15 healthcare workers were interviewed. Both groups noted limited access to inhalers was an issue resulting in continued use of oral medications. Some patients recognised the benefits of inhalers, yet beliefs that inhalers were dangerous were common. Reliance on oral short-acting beta agonists meant patients saw asthma as a recurrent acute condition resulting in an emphasis on hospital management with little awareness of inhaled preventative medicines. Increasing access to inhaled medicines has the potential to reduce costly avoidable admissions, but socio-cultural factors, in addition to medication supply, need addressing. [Abstract copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).]
KeywordsAsthma; Healthcare
Year2024
Journalnpj: Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
Journal citation34 (1), p. 29
PublisherNature Publishing Group
ISSN2055-1010
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-024-00390-x
Official URLhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41533-024-00390-x
Publication dates
Online17 Oct 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Oct 2024
Deposited31 Oct 2024
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Additional information

Publications router.

Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/99804/beliefs-surrounding-the-use-of-inhaled-asthma-medication-in-the-gambia-a-qualitative-study-of-asthma-patients-and-healthcare-workers

Download files

Publisher's version
s41533-024-00390-x.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 4
    total views
  • 1
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Implementing fertility care: Insights from a participatory workshop in The Gambia
Afferri, A., Dierickx, Susan, Bittaye, Mustapha, Marena, Musa, Ceesay, Sainey M, Bittaye, Haddy, Pacey, Allan Antony and Balen, Julie 2024. Implementing fertility care: Insights from a participatory workshop in The Gambia. Reproduction and Fertility. https://doi.org/10.1530/raf-24-0029
A systematic review of public health interventions to address breast cancer inequalities in low- and middle-income countries
Chanakira, E., Thomas, Chloe V, Balen, Julie and Mandrik, Olena 2024. A systematic review of public health interventions to address breast cancer inequalities in low- and middle-income countries. Systematic Reviews. 13 (1), p. 195. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02620-2
Policy action points and approaches to promote fertility care in The Gambia: Findings from a mixed-methods study
Afferi, A., Dierickx, S., Bittaye, M., Marena, M., Pacey, A. A. and Balen, J. 2024. Policy action points and approaches to promote fertility care in The Gambia: Findings from a mixed-methods study. PLoS ONE.
COVID-19 as a challenge to Nepal’s newly federalized health system: Capacities, responsibilities, and mindsets
Koirala, B., Rushton, Simon, Adhikary, Pratik, Balen, Julie, Basnet, Srijana, Joshi, Saugat, Karki, A., Lee, Andrew, Rijal, B., Simkhada, P., Subedi, Madhusudan, van Teijlingen, Edwin and Karki, Jiban 2024. COVID-19 as a challenge to Nepal’s newly federalized health system: Capacities, responsibilities, and mindsets. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. 36 (5), pp. 513-515. https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395241250123
'It's about time': policymakers' and health practitioners' perspectives on implementing fertility care in the Gambian health system.
Afferri, A., Dierickx, Susan, Allen, Haddijatou, Bittaye, Mustapha, Marena, Musa, Pacey, Allan and Balen, Julie 2024. 'It's about time': policymakers' and health practitioners' perspectives on implementing fertility care in the Gambian health system. BMC Health Services Research. 24 (1), p. 282. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10701-0
Perception and experiences of adolescent mothers and communities in caring for their preterm babies: findings from an in-depth study in rural Bangladesh
Salam, Shumona Sharmin, Rahman, Ahmed Ehsanur, Mhajabin, Shema, Mazumder, Tapas, Majid, Tamanna, Samad Talha, Md Taqbir Us, Haider, Rajib, Chowdhury, Anika Tasneem, Islam, Sharmin, Ameen, Shafiqul, Jabeen, Sabrina, Balen, Julie, Arifeen, Shams El, Nahar, Quamrun and Anumba, D. 2024. Perception and experiences of adolescent mothers and communities in caring for their preterm babies: findings from an in-depth study in rural Bangladesh. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 24 (1), p. 145. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06345-x
Participatory policy analysis in health policy and systems research: reflections from a study in Nepal.
Sapkota, S., Rushton, S., van Teijilingen, E., Subedi, M., Balen, J., Gautam, S., Adhikary, P., Simkhada, P., Wasti, S. P., Karki, J. K., Panday, S., Karki, A., Rijal, B., Joshi, S., Basnet, S. and Marahatta, S. B. 2024. Participatory policy analysis in health policy and systems research: reflections from a study in Nepal. Health Research Policy and Systems. 22 (7), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01092-5
Selection of study sites and participants for research into Nepal’s federal health system
Wasti, Sharada Prasad, van Teijlingen, Edwin, Simkhada, Padam, Rushton, Simon, Balen, Julie, Subedi, Madhusudan, Karki, Jiban, Adhikary, Pratik, Sapkota, Sujata, Gautam, Sujan, Marahatta, Sujan, Panday, Sarita, Bajracharya, Bikesh and Vaidya, Anju 2024. Selection of study sites and participants for research into Nepal’s federal health system. WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health. 12 (2), pp. 116-119. https://doi.org/10.4103/who-seajph.who-seajph_169_22
The impact of decentralisation on health systems: a systematic review of reviews
Sapkota, S., Dhakal, Amshu, Rushton, S., van Teijlingen, E., Marahatta, S., Balen, J., Lee, A. and Nepal Federal Health System Team 2023. The impact of decentralisation on health systems: a systematic review of reviews. BMJ Global Health. 8 (12), p. e013317. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013317
Overcoming the challenges facing Nepal's health system during federalisation: an analysis of health system building blocks.
Wasti, S., van Teijlingen, E., Rushton, S., Subedi, M., Simkhada, P., Balen, J. and Nepal Federal Health System Team 2023. Overcoming the challenges facing Nepal's health system during federalisation: an analysis of health system building blocks. Health Research Policy and Systems. 21 (1), p. 117. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01033-2
Research prioritisation on prevention and management of preterm birth in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a special focus on Bangladesh using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method
Salam, Shumona Sharmin, Ameen, Shafiqul, Balen, Julie, Nahar, Quamrun, Jabeen, Sabrina, Ahmed, Anisuddin, Gillespie, Bronwen, Chauke, Lawrence, Mannan, Abdul, Hoque, Mahbubul, Dey, Sanjoy Kumer, Islam, Jahurul, Ashrafee, Sabina, Alam, Husam Md Shah, Saberin, Ashfia, Saha, Palash Kumar, Sarkar, Supriya, Alim, Azizul, Islam, Muhammad Shariful, Gray, Clive, El Arifeen, Shams, Rahman, Ahmed Ehsanur and Anumba, Dilly OC 2023. Research prioritisation on prevention and management of preterm birth in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a special focus on Bangladesh using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method. Journal of Global Health. 13, p. 07004. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.13.07004