IPCRG Research Prioritisation Small Grants project update: The Gambia

In 2022, IPCRG awarded a grant to the project Barriers and facilitators to the implementation and uptake of inhaled medicines for the treatment of Asthma in The Gambia through our Research Prioritisation Small Grants programme. This work was led by Shamanthi Jayasooriya and the results of this research are now published in our npjPCRM Journal. Additionally, an article on a workshop which took place as part of this work is now posted on the WHO Knowledge Action Portal on NCDs.

Implementing asthma guidelines is challenging when there is limited access to WHO essential inhaled medicines for asthma, something experienced in many countries including The Gambia. The project interviewed 20 asthma patients and 15 healthcare workers at three secondary care facilities in and found that the lack access to inhalers resulted in the continued use of oral medications. The research also found beliefs that inhalers were dangerous, although some patients did recognise their benefits. 

This situation has led to a reliance on oral short-acting beta agonists, meaning that patients see asthma as a recurrent acute condition needing hospital management. Equally, there is little awareness around the preventative inhaled medicines which have the potential to reduce costly and avoidable hospital admissions. 

A stakeholder workshop in The Gambia presented the findings of the research, increasing awareness around inhaled medicinces and around treatmenting and managing asthma.