@article {Amirzadeh:2010:1088-5412:304,
title = "Epinephrine auto-injector use and demographics in a Veterans Administration population",
journal = "Allergy and Asthma Proceedings",
parent_itemid = "infobike://ocean/aap",
publishercode ="ocean",
year = "2010",
volume = "31",
number = "4",
publication date ="2010-07-01T00:00:00",
pages = "304-307",
itemtype = "ARTICLE",
issn = "1088-5412",
eissn = "1539-6304",
url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ocean/aap/2010/00000031/00000004/art00010",
doi = "doi:10.2500/aap.2010.31.3351",
keyword = "quality control, use, Anaphylaxis, demographics, EpiPen, twinject, epinephrine, veteran",
author = "Amirzadeh, Ali and Verma, Prashant and Lee, Sabrina and Klaustermeyer, William",
abstract = "The epinephrine auto-injector has been widely used over a long period of time. Certain aspects of this therapy and demographic data, however, have not been well studied. This study investigates patient use and understanding of epinephrine auto-injector use. As part of an ongoing quality
assurance program, we evaluated 66 patients who had been given an epinephrine auto-injector and followed in the Allergy and Immunology Clinics at the West Los Angeles Veterans Medical Center. Data analyzed included patient demographics, medical indications for epinephrine auto-injector prescriptions,
and the patients understanding and use of the device. The mean age of our patients was 50 years. There were 44 men (66.7%) and 22 women (33%). Twenty-three patients were prescribed epinephrine auto-injector for adverse food reactions. Ninety-two percent (92%) of the patients knew how
to use their epinephrine auto-injector properly, however, only 58% carried their device with them consistently. Of the patients, 91% understood why the auto-injector was prescribed. Of the total patients prescribed epinephrine auto-injector, 79% refilled their medication before the 1 year
expiration date. Only 12% of the patients studied had required the use of their auto-injector. Most patients knew how and when to administer their epinephrine auto-injector. Despite detailed instructions in a specialty clinic only a slight majority carried it consistently. These data clearly
indicate that further patient education or other measures are needed to improve compliance and effective use.",
}