The first state-level public health program for obstructive airway disease in India: An early field-level evaluation

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Soumya GopakumarKrishnapilla Vijayakumar

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the second leading cause of mortality in India; however, there are no programs for COPD in India at primary care level. Kerala became the first state in India to implement a program at primary care for COPD, called the Step Wise Approach to Airway Syndrome program. The objective of the study was to evaluate and document the implementation status of a program for obstructive airway disease (OAD) in Trivandrum district of Kerala state in India and compare the treatment characteristics of patients with OAD seeking care from the centers implementing and not implementing this program for OADs. A cross-sectional study was done as early evaluation of a program for OAD implemented in Kerala state, India, from October 2018 to February 2019. A reflection of the health-seeking behavior due to better facilities at the FHCs. There was no difference in the hospital visits or emergency department visits between the two groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the average number of visits per patient to health center for taking injectable drugs and visits for nebulization. Forty-nine (94%) of the COPD and 36 (100%) of the asthma patients underwent spirometry from imple...Continue Reading

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BETA
IEC

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SWAAS

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