ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE TOWARDS ASTHMA AND THE IMPACT OF PATIENT COUNSELLING ON INHALATION TECHNIQUES IN ASTHMATICS

Abstract

Purpose: Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from 
person to person. There is a lack of patient awareness with respect to complete knowledge about the disease, attitude towards disease management, 
medication adherence behavior and treatment outcomes. Various advances have been made in the management of asthma but despite this, the morbidity 
and mortality rates are not declining. Material and methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted among 50 clinical and spirometry 
confirmed cases of asthma in Respiratory Medicine department of a Tertiary care hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Result: A total of 50 
patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients in the study was 58.66 years (±15.73), with a slight female preponderance (54%). An 
average score of knowledge assessment was 3.55±1.39 and attitude assessment was 4.57±0.85. 89 % of the study population was already on inhalers 
but had improper inhalation technique. A post counselling value of 9.74±2.8 showed a positive impact of patient counseling on correct inhalation 
technique. Conclusion: Despite wide prevalence, there is ignorance and misconception regarding asthma. Sincere efforts are required to provide health 
education to the patients so as to help them in understanding the disease and its management and thus reduce the disease burden.