Patient Satisfaction with Budesonide Turbuhaler™ Versus Triamcinolone Acetonide Administered via Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler in a Managed Care Setting

Dissatisfaction with medication may negatively affect compliance and thus the effectiveness of the treatment. However, no prospective well-controlled studies have assessed the relative patient satisfaction with competing inhaled corticosteroids in a real-life setting. The objective of the current study was to compare the relative patient satisfaction with budesonide inhalation powder administered via Turbuhaler (AstraZeneca LP, Wilmington, DE) (200 to 1600 µg/d using one of 3 dosing strengths: 100, 200, or 400 µg per inhalation) and triamcinolone acetonide administered via pressurized metered-dose inhaler (200 to 1600 µg/d) among persons treated in managed care settings. A total of 945 subjects 18 years of age or older diagnosed with asthma and enrolled in 25 managed care organizations participated in this prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, 12-month study. As part of the study, subjects completed a self-administered, 17-item patient satisfaction questionnaire that addressed 4 domains: si...