Determinants of objective adherence to nebulised medications among adults with cystic fibrosis: an exploratory mixed methods study comparing low and high adherers

Figures & data

Table 1. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of high (n = 10) and low (n = 10) adherers.

	Low adherers, median [IQR] (N = 10)	High adherers, median [IQR] (N = 10)	Median of differences between groups [95% CIs]
% Nebuliser adherence in previous year	28.0 [5.3, 46.0]	94.9 [86.7, 108.5]	–69.1 [–92.6, –48.9]
Age in years	21.5 [19.3, 31.3]	30.0 [18.0, 42.0]	–5.3 [–13.0, 3.0]
Female^a	3 (.30)	5 (.50)	.20 [–.20,.53]
Best % predicted FEV1 for the previous year	88.0 [80.0, 96.3]	77.0 [56.0, 86.0]	13.0 [–4.0, 31.0]
IV days for the previous year	13 [0, 50]	7 [0, 16]	10 [–4, 31]

^aFor gender, the proportion of female participants in each group and difference in proportion [95% CIs] were displayed.

Table 2. Psychological factors among high (n = 10) and low (n = 10) adherers.

	Low adherers, median [IQR] (N = 10)	High adherers, median [IQR] (N = 10)	Median of differences between groups [95% CIs]
Treatment complexity score	14.5 [10.0, 15.3]	15.5 [10.0, 16.5]	–1.0 [–5.0, 4.0]
Perceived treatment burden	2.3 [1.4, 3.6]	1.8 [1.0, 3.5]	0.5 [–1.0, 2.0]
Self-regulation	4.6 [3.7, 4.9]	5.4 [4.5, 5.8]	–0.8 [–1.4, 0.0]
Life chaos	4.5 [3.8, 5.3]	5.4 [4. 7, 5.7]	–0.8 [–1.7, 0.2]
Intention	6.8 [6.4, 7.0]	7.0 [6.3, 7.0]	0.0 [–0.5, 0.5]
Capability, external control Capability, self-efficacy	6.0 [4.0, 7.0] 6.0 [4.8, 6.0]	7.0 [7.0, 7.0] 6.5 [2.5, 7.0]	–1.0 [–3.0, 0.0] –1.0 [–1.0, 3.0]
Opportunity, absence of obstacles Opportunity, generic	3.5 [2.0, 6.0] 5.0 [2.8, 6.0]	6.5 [5.8, 7.0] 6.0 [5.0, 7.0]	–3.0 [–4.0, –1.0] –1.0 [–3.0, 0.0]
Habit Non-specific habit ‘Instigation habit’ ‘Execution habit’	3.1 [2.2, 4.0] 4.0 [2.8, 5.0] 5.0 [4.8, 5.3]	5.6 [4.4, 6.3] 6.5 [4.8, 7.0] 7.0 [6.6, 7.0]	–2.3 [–3.5, –1.0] –2.0 [–3.0, –1.0] –2.0 [–2.0, –1.0]