EVALUATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF PATIENTS, COMPLIANCE TO TREATMENT AND THE IMPACT OF PATIENT EDUCATION ON ASTHMA: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY ON OUTPATIENT ASTHMATICS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patient knowledge of asthma, their compliance to treatment, providing patient education and evaluating the impact of education on asthma management. With this view an interventional study was conducted from December 2008 to March 2009 among the asthma outpatients of Department of Respiratory Medicine, Govt. Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, South India. By using a semi-structured questionnaire, the study was carried out on 100 patients between the ages of 12 - 70 year. Information such as demographic data, triggering factors and frequency of asthma attacks, history of childhood and hereditary asthma, knowledge level of patient, usage of common medication, inhaler usage, side effects, compliance to treatment and reasons for non compliance was collected by direct interview method. Pulmonary function test was performed and patient education was provided to participants. After three months, all the participants were assessed again. The collected data was analyzed by using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software. The study revealed that 75 % of patients were females and 25 % were males. Majority of the patients were under the age group of 30-39 years (32 %). The analysis of educational status revealed that the majority of study population was literate. Major precipitating factors for asthma were found to be dust, weather, smoke and cold. In the study population 26 % had a history of childhood asthma, 49 % had history of hereditary asthma, 74 % used dry powder inhaler and 26 % used metered dose inhaler. It was found that Budesonide/formoterol and Salmeterol/fluticasone are the commonly prescribed combination medication and the only side effect reported was dysphonia. Cost of medication was the major reason for noncompliance. In follow up, patient education was found to have a significant impact on smoking habits, inhaler usage, patient compliance and knowledge. From this study, it was clear that patient education plays an important role in the better management of asthma.