Abstract
Introduction: Achievement of good asthma control is the goal of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. Patient education is one of the most important methods for achieving this.
Methods: Health insurance companies, pneumologists and pharmacists invited patients with asthma to complete a survey, which included the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and the Patients Assessment Chronic Illness Care Questionnaire (PACIC 5A). Patients were offered the possibility to take part in a patient education seminar run by the Swiss Lung Leagues or Swiss Allergy Centres ("aha"). The patients' overall asthma control and interest in receiving education about their asthma were assessed.
Results: 246 asthma patients participated (mean age 43.5 ± 11.9 yrs; 39% males). Asthma was well-controlled in 162 (66%), not well-controlled in 49 (20%) and very poorly controlled in 33 (13%) patients (2 ACT scores missing). 131 (53%) patients showed interest in taking part in an education seminar. Of these, 75 (57%) patients were well-controlled, 29 (22%) were not well-controlled and 25 (19%) were very poorly controlled. Mean PACIC and 5A summary score was 41.25 ± 13.73 and 31.23 ± 11.50, respectively. Conversely, of patients who were not interested in taking part in a seminar, 87 (76%) were well-controlled, 20 (17%) were not well-controlled and 8 (7%) very poorly controlled. Mean PACIC and 5A summary score was 52.61 ± 17.37 and 48.29 ± 63.62.
Conclusions: Approximately one third of the patients showed uncontrolled asthma. Patients with uncontrolled asthma and worse PACIC and 5A score were more likely to express interest in taking part in a patient education seminar.
- © 2014 ERS