Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Effects of an outpatient education program in patients with uncontrolled asthma

Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia

Print version ISSN 1806-3713

J. bras. pneumol. vol.39 no.3 São Paulo May/June 2013

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132013000300003

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Effects of an outpatient education program in patients with uncontrolled asthma*

Carmen Denise Borba Rodrigues, Rosemary Petrik Pereira, Paulo de Tarso Roth Dalcin

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Graduate Student. Graduate Program in Pulmonology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul School of Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Adjunct Professor. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul School of Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Associate Professor. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul School of Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effects of an outpatient education program in patients with uncontrolled asthma.

METHODS:

This was an uncontrolled study evaluating an educational intervention and involving patients with uncontrolled asthma ≥ 14 years of age. The participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess the level of asthma control, the inhalation technique, and quality of life. All of the patients underwent pulmonary function testing, after which they participated in an education program consisting of one 45-min face-to-face session, followed by phone interviews at two, four, and eight weeks. The participants were reevaluated after three months.

RESULTS:

Sixty-three patients completed the study. There was a significant improvement in the level of asthma control (p - 0.001). Of the 63 patients, 28 (44.4%) and 6 (9.5%) were classified as having partially controlled asthma and controlled asthma, respectively. The mean FEV₁ was 63.0 ± 20.0% and 68.5 ± 21.2% of the predicted value prior to and after the educational intervention, respectively (p = 0.002), and all of the quality of life scores improved (p - 0.05 for all). The same was true for the proportion of patients prior to and after the educational intervention using the proper inhalation technique when using metered dose inhalers (15.4% vs. 46.2%; p = 0.02) and dry powder inhalers (21.3% vs. 76.6%; p < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis revealed that an incorrect inhalation technique identified during the first evaluation was independently associated with a favorable response to the educational intervention.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that an outpatient education program for asthma patients improves the level of asthma control, lung function parameters, and quality of life. An incorrect inhalation technique identified during the first evaluation was predictive of a favorable response to the educational intervention.

Keywords: Asthma/prevention and control; Quality of life; Respiratory function tests; Ambulatory care; Health education