CONTEXT: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as a major healthcare problem in the United States and around the world. OBJECTIVE: This survey regarding initial experience in patients with COPD collected feedback about newly initiated therapy with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FSC; ADVAIR DISKUS). DESIGN: Three telephone surveys were conducted; Survey 1 prior to initiating therapy with FSC 250/50, and Surveys 2 and 3 at 2 weeks and 30 days after initiating therapy with FSC 250/50, respectively. SETTING: One thousand primary care physicians recruited outpatients into the trial. PATIENTS: Patients were either newly diagnosed with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis or were still experiencing breathing difficulties on an anticholinergic medication. INTERVENTIONS: Patients initiated FSC 250/50 and received a 1-month supply of FSC 250/50 with an albuterol inhaler for rescue use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures were patient perceptions of satisfaction, compliance, and convenience and changes in breathing on 1 (negative) to 9 (positive) point scales. RESULTS: Five hundred sixteen patients completed all 3 surveys. The mean age was 61 years, 63% were female, and 62% had been diagnosed with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis for 3 years or less (Table 1). CONCLUSION: Patients reported high satisfaction, compliance, and convenience with FSC 250/50 within 2 weeks of initiating therapy, all maintained over the trial period. Additionally, patients had positive changes in breathing, including improvements in the ability to breathe upon awakening in the morning.
CONTEXT: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as a major healthcare problem in the United States and around the world. OBJECTIVE: This survey regarding initial experience in patients with COPD collected feedback about newly initiated therapy with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FSC; ADVAIR DISKUS). DESIGN: Three telephone surveys were conducted; Survey 1 prior to initiating therapy with FSC 250/50, and Surveys 2 and 3 at 2 weeks and 30 days after initiating therapy with FSC 250/50, respectively. SETTING: One thousand primary care physicians recruited outpatients into the trial. PATIENTS: Patients were either newly diagnosed with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis or were still experiencing breathing difficulties on an anticholinergic medication. INTERVENTIONS:Patients initiated FSC 250/50 and received a 1-month supply of FSC 250/50 with an albuterol inhaler for rescue use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures were patient perceptions of satisfaction, compliance, and convenience and changes in breathing on 1 (negative) to 9 (positive) point scales. RESULTS: Five hundred sixteen patients completed all 3 surveys. The mean age was 61 years, 63% were female, and 62% had been diagnosed with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis for 3 years or less (Table 1). CONCLUSION:Patients reported high satisfaction, compliance, and convenience with FSC 250/50 within 2 weeks of initiating therapy, all maintained over the trial period. Additionally, patients had positive changes in breathing, including improvements in the ability to breathe upon awakening in the morning.
Authors: Nicola A Hanania; Patrick Darken; Donald Horstman; Colin Reisner; Benjamin Lee; Suzanne Davis; Tushar Shah Journal: Chest Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 9.410