Influence of patients’ education on their Asthma control

Background: Despite the availability of effective treatments aimed at controlling asthma symptoms, up to 50% of patients with asthma remain poorly controlled. Several studies in the US, UK and other European countries among adults and children with asthma suggest that education and information of an asthmatic patient is the cornerstone of therapy adherence. Successful asthma management is 10% medication and 90% education.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of asthma control of patients seen at the pneumology out-patient clinic of the University Hospital of Brussels and to determine if education on the inhalation technique and information about their therapy could influence asthma control.

Methods: After their usual normal consultation procedure, including routine lung function measurements, patients will be asked to participate in this educational study. After informed consent is obtained, subjects are interviewed to determine their demographic characteristics, asthma history, asthma control by the validated Asthma Control Test score (ACT)17, Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)23 and knowledge about their disease and treatment. After completing the survey, routine actions on consultation pneumology will continue: including a supplementary check of inhaler technique. One out of two randomized patients will get a brief specific add on session for about 10 minutes, of inhalation education and information about their therapy, eg. medication use (group one) . The other group (group two) will continue their usual normal consultation procedure. All patients will be asked to return after 3 months at their normal next visit, to the out-patient clinic to redo routine lung function measurements, asthma control questionnaires and check of inhaler technique. Acquired data will be statistical analyzed.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of asthma control of patients seen at the pneumology out-patient clinic of the University Hospital of Brussels and to determine if education on the inhalation technique and information about their therapy could influence asthma control.

During the same session we will ask all patients to return to the out-patient clinic after 3 months at their normal follow-up visit for visit 2.

One out of two randomized patients will get a brief specific add on session for about 10 minutes, of inhalation education and information about their therapy