chaney (2004)- funhaler

Question 1

research method

Answer 1

field exp, conducted in p’s home settings in australia, repeated measures design

IVs: whether child used standard or smaller volume spacer device and whether the child used a funhaler

DV: amount of adherence to the prescribed medical regime

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

32 children (22 male, 10 female; age range 1.5 - 6 years
children's parents provided informed consent and also participated in study through completing questionnaires and phone interviews

Question 3

outline procedure

Answer 3

firstly a comparison was made between the times of inhalers and no differences were observed.
p’s approached by researcher at home initially before mention of funhaler
then they were given funhaler for 2 weeks and reported over phone on whether they used funhaler the previous day.
matched questionnaires completed by parents.
then the researcher came to their house again.
data collected from self-report related to how easy each device was to use, compliance of parents and children, and treatment attitudes.
The Funhaler incorporates a number of features to distract the attention of children from the drug delivery event itself and to provide a means
of self reinforcing the use of effective technique. The Funhaler makes spacers appealing to children in the following ways:
- isolates incentive toys
- the design of the toys themselves ensures sufficient inspiratory resistance to minimise entrainment of inspired air through the toy circuit.
The design attempts to link the optimal function of the toys to deep breathing pattern conducive to effective medication.
(iv) The design anticipates the potential for boredom of children with particular incentive toys in its modular arrangement which would allow
the replacement of the incentive toy module with a range of different toys

Question 4

conclusions

Answer 4

mproved adherence, combined with satisfactory delivery characteristics, suggest that the Funhaler may be useful for management of young
asthmatics.
• The use of the Funaler could possibly be translated to improved measures of clinical outcome.
• The use of functional incentive devices such as the Funhaler may improve the health of children.
• More research is recommended in the long-term efficacy of this treatment.