Education for Self-treatment by Adult Asthmatics

Abstract

A prospective experimental design evaluated the ability of a series of educational and motivational interventions to enhance self-treatment by adult asthmatics and to reduce use of emergency department services for asthma attacks. After treatment for an asthma attack, subjects were randomly assigned to the following sequential interventions: (1) reinforcement by interpersonal similarity at the time of the emergency visit, (2) recepit of positive written appeals, and (3) follow-up telephone reinforcement. The asthmatic nurse educator was generally more effective in achieving short-term reduction of emergency department visits. Although the usefulness of the positive written appeal increased when employed by the asthmatic nurse, there were no substantive independent effects of the written message on emergency department use.

Patient-Centered Education: Applying Learner-Centered Concepts to Asthma Education

“…As asthma is a significant health issue worldwide, there have been a large number of asthma education studies on adults, including systematic reviews (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). The curriculum used in a number of asthma education studies and asthma education pamphlets from various asthma councils and foundations appear to be based on evidence-based guidelines (Table 1) (6,9,12,13).…”

A Call for Expanding the Role of the Emergency Physician in the Care of Patients With Asthma

“…32 An earlier study also demonstrated that verbal education in the ED by a nurse with a personal history of asthma was effective in reducing subsequent ED visits. 33 Despite some evidence that a written action plan reduces asthma hospitalizations, 34 most adult patients hospitalized for asthma do not receive such action plans. 35 Additionally, studies have shown that even with education, noncompliance and poor inhaler technique are common.…”

Case Management and Quality Assurance to Improve Care of Inner-city Children With Asthma

“…Acceptance of the Program All physicians or parents who could be contacted agreed to participate in the program. When the 88 enrolled patients had been followed up for an average of eight months (range, five to 11 months), 14 (16%) could no longer be reached by telephone: in 11 cases the telephone was disconnected or changed to an unlisted number. Three parents withdrew their child by re¬ peatedly being "not home" when the study nurse called.…”