Related Experiment Videos
Patient preferences for autonomy in decision making in asthma management
R J Adams1, B J Smith, R E Ruffin
1Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia 5011, Australia.
Thorax
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Patients with moderate to severe asthma prefer doctors to lead management decisions but want control over seeking care and medication changes. Factors like cost and physician behavior influence autonomy preferences.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Lower patient autonomy in asthma exacerbation management is linked to increased hospital admissions.
- Understanding patient preferences for self-management autonomy is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine patient preferences for asthma self-management autonomy.
- To identify clinical and psychosocial factors associated with these preferences.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional observational study of 212 adult patients with moderate to severe asthma.
- Data collected via surveys on autonomy preferences, quality of life, clinical factors, and psychosocial measures.
Main Results:
- Most patients preferred clinicians to lead management decisions.
- Patients desired control over seeking care and shared decision-making for medication changes.
- Autonomy preferences were associated with concerns about medication side effects, education, coping style, perceived physician involvement, and cost barriers.
Conclusions:
- Patient autonomy preferences in asthma management are influenced by education, perceived physician behavior, cost, and psychosocial factors, not clinical control.
- Findings have implications for developing effective asthma action plans and self-management programs.