Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess patients' attitudes regarding after- sting behavior and their capability to correctly self-administer the epinephrine autoinjector. METHODS: All patients with venom allergy attending our allergy unit either before commencement of or during venom immunotherapy answered a questionnaire addressing various aspects of their intended after- sting behavior. Using an EpiPen trainer device, patients' performance of EpiPen self-administration was evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients participated in the study. Seventy-six of them were equipped with an EpiPen device. Less than 30% of these patients carried it at all times. After re- sting, 50 (54%) patients planned to wait for the development of other symptoms before taking any further action. Twenty-two percent of the patients said that after re- sting they would immediately administer their EpiPen. Proper EpiPen administration technique was demonstrated by 44% of the patients. Having not reached the maintenance dose correlated with a better compliance with carrying of the EpiPen. EpiPen instruction provided by an allergist correlated with a better EpiPen administration technique by the patients. CONCLUSION: Many patients with venom allergy hold wrong ideas about after- sting behavior. Compliance with carrying EpiPen at all times and the ability to correctly administer it are both poor in most patients. Thorough and probably repeated instruction, both written and oral, provided by knowledgeable physicians is mandatory.
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Authors | A Goldberg, R Confino-Cohen |
Journal | The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
(J Allergy Clin Immunol)
Vol. 106
Issue 6
Pg. 1184-9
(Dec 2000)
ISSN: 0091-6749 [Print] United States |
PMID | 11112904
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Attitude to Health
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Epinephrine
(administration & dosage)
- Female
- Humans
- Hypersensitivity
(etiology)
- Immunotherapy
(instrumentation)
- Insect Bites and Stings
(complications, immunology, psychology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Patient Compliance
- Self Administration
(standards)
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