Cost related underuse of medicines, survey (published 2019)

The survey was completed by n = 792 adults (mean age, 47 years, male 47%, concession 60%) and n = 609 parents of children (5-10 years 51%, male 60%, concession 59%) with asthma. Cost-related underuse was reported by 52.9% adults and 34.3% parents, predominantly decreasing or skipping doses to make medicines last longer. Higher odds of cost-related underuse were observed with younger adults, males, having concerns about medicines, less comfortable talking to prescribers about cost or changing medicines, feeling less engaged with prescribers about medicine decisions, and with poorer asthma control; parents, poor control, and requiring specialist or urgent health care visits. Income and concession card status were not associated with cost-related underuse.
Conclusions: Adults and parents of children with asthma indicate high rates of cost-related underuse of asthma medicines, even in the context of national medicines subsidies. Urgent targeting of interventions to promote discussion of medicines and costs between doctor and patients, particularly young adult males, is needed.