PSYCHOLOGY: CHANEY ET AL

• We learn through operant conditioning
• In operant conditioning, we learn through associating consequences with our behaviour

PMDI - pressurised metered dose inhaler

Study Aim - To see if operant conditioning could be used to encourage inhaler use through the use of positive reinforcement

• If children found that using the medication had a pleasurable outcome, they would be more likely to repeat that behaviour - behaviour modification technique.

• Researchers wanted to see if they could increase the adherence to medication routines in young asthmatics by including incentive toys into an inhaler - Funhaler

Field Experiemnt

Repeated Measures Design

Participants completed in their own homes in Australia

IV - whether the child used a standard/small volume spacer device called the Breath-a-Tech or a Funhaler

DV - Amount of adherence to the prescribed medical routine

• 32 Children
• 10 male and 22 female
• Age: 18 months - 6 yeaars
• Mean Age - 3.2 years
• Average duration of the participan's asthma - 2.2 years
• Random Sample - from local GP and paediatric clinics

• Structured Closed Question Questionnaire

• Funhaler - delivers asthma medication but incorporates incentive toys

• Toy - acts as a distraction to medication + as a self-reinforcement to encourage correct breathing technique without the need for parental encouragement

1. Funhaler was first checked to ensure that it delivered the same amount of medication as the Breath-a-Tech

2. Parents were sent a questionnaire to establish existing attitude and usage of their child

3. Parents were then asked to use the Funhaler for two weeks

4. After the two weeks, parenst were sent a second matched questionnaire to indicate the usage and attitude of the Funhaler

5. Each parent was then called randomly and given a 'phone interview' to see if they had medicated their child on the previous day

Key Findings -

• Adherence to medication had improved - 60% more children took the recommended dose when using the Funhaler compared to using the standard medication.

Conclusions -

• The Funhaler may be a useful tool in helping to manage the condition in young children - leading to a decrease in hospital admission and asthma related deaths.

• Positive Reinforcement devices can encourage desired behaviours, such as the adherence to medical routine.

DEVELOPMENTAL

• Shows how children learn through experiences that they have.
• Study suggests that childhood experiences may shape our development