Source: Annual Congress 2002 - Asthma in primary care - Assessment and control
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

Background: Despite improved understanding of pathophysiology of asthma, morbimortality continue to rise. Educational programs may improve skills of self-management, functional status and reduce visits to emergency departments (ED). Objective: To describe the characteristics of an asthma education program (AEP). Methods: A multidisciplinary assistance and educational program for asthmatics adults is being developed in a general university hospital in Brazil since 1999.The asthmatics patients have frequent visits to pneumology and nurse ambulatories, and monthly group meetings where the main topics of asthma are discussed. Results: Since 1999, 53 patients concluded the AEP (19 males; mean age: 46.0 ±] 15.01). Twenty-five had mild asthma, 13 moderate and 13 severe. Twenty-six (49.1%) had a history of previous hospitalizations; seven (13.2%) at the ICU and 4 (7.5%) had already been intubated. Nineteen (49.4%) patients had atopy symptoms. Most of patients had not concluded high school and had a monthly income lower than 4 minimum wages. The group of 2000 had a significant reduction in the number of ED visits after the AEP (4.82 ±] 5.82 pre vs. 1.13 ±] 2.53 post-intervention, p<0.05) and hospitalizations (1.12 ±] 3.87 pre vs. 0.20 ±] 0.56 post-intervention, p<0.05). Conclusion: A multidisciplinary asthma education program can improve symptoms and well being, and reduce hospitalizations and ED visits in a low social class asthmatic group.

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V. B. G. Vieira, M. A. Fontoura, H. K. Choi, A. K. Fernandes, D. R. Siqueira, D. De Villa, M. L. Silva, M. H. Freiberger, S. S. Menna-Barreto (Porto Alegre, Brazil). Asthma education program for adults in a general university hospital in Brazil - 3 years of experience. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 595

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