PMID: 16518558Mar 7, 2006Paper

Impact of an asthma education programme on patients' knowledge, inhaler technique and compliance to treatment

Singapore Medical Journal
L PrabhakaranY M Choo

Abstract

We conducted a study to assess the impact of an asthma education programme (AEP) on knowledge of asthma and medication, compliance to treatment and inhaler technique, emergency department visits and hospital re-admissions. Patients hospitalised for asthma exacerbation were administered a questionnaire to test their baseline knowledge and beliefs on asthma, its medications and their compliance to treatment. Their inhaler technique was assessed. They then underwent an AEP consisting of two individualised education sessions. Re-testing was performed after three months. Per protocol approach and McNemar's test was used to analyse the statistical significance of the change in the pre- and post-AEP test scores. Hospital administrative data were used to determine the number of ED visits and hospital admissions pre- and post-AEP. Among the 67 patients who completed the two-phase AEP, there was significant improvement in some knowledge aspects (ability to identify rescue medication [p-value is 0.031], that different stimuli can trigger asthma symptoms [p-value is 0.016], that a peak flow meter is used for monitoring asthma [p-value is 0.004], that asthma symptoms are caused by airway swelling/narrowing [p-value is less than 0.001], that...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Asthma

This feed focuses in Asthma in which your airways narrow and swell. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Allergy and Asthma

Allergy and asthma are inflammatory disorders that are triggered by the activation of an allergen-specific regulatory t cell. These t cells become activated when allergens are recognized by allergen-presenting cells. Here is the latest research on allergy and asthma.