ESPE Abstracts

Background: Compliance of patients on GH treatment is very important for the success of the treatment. In a multıcentre study done in Turkey we had shown that compliance decreased at the end of 1st year of treatment which had an adverse effect on growth rate and IGF1 levels.

Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate whether doing regular questionnaire to patients on GH has an effect on compliance at long term.

Method: A questionnaire form was prepared with 14 questions. The patients on GH treatment who were followed from our Unit filled a form at the 3rd and 6th month of their follow-up consecutively. Spectrum of diagnoses were GH deficiency (86.3%), Turner syndrome (5.7%), intrauterine growth retardation (3%) and others (5%).

Results: 301 patients filled the first form and 198 patients filled the second form on follow up. Mean age was 11.6±3.5(1–18) years and duration of GH treatment was between 0.25–14 years. 98.5% of the children answered the questions regarding technical issues (GH application technique and time, storage conditions etc) correctly. However 56% of the patients stated that, not infrequently, after injection drug spilled back. 62% of GH injections were done by parents or under parental guidance. After the first questionnaire it was shown that 71.3%of the patients had absolute compliance to treatment. This ratio was 82.4% in girls, 67.5% in boys. Treatment duration was much longer in incompliant patients (2.1±1.6 years and 1.8±1.7 years respectively). Injection by the parents resulted in a higher compliance rate than injection by the patient (79.5 and 68.3% respectively). After the second questionnaire, compliance rate increased from 74.2 to 80.7%. Compliance of girls was much higher than boys (83.9 and 77.8% respectively).

Conclusion: Applying regular questionnaire to patients on GH increases the compliance to treatment. More education should be given to boys in this matter.