Management of childhood asthma: physicians' perspective in Turkey

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Medical Education
• Asthma Management

Background:

• Despite efforts to reduce asthma morbidity and mortality through guidelines, suboptimal asthma control persists globally.
• Low asthma control rates in both pediatric and adult populations necessitate an evaluation of healthcare provider knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the asthma-related knowledge of Turkish physicians caring for pediatric asthmatics.
• To identify specific areas of strength and weakness in physician understanding of asthma management guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study was conducted among Turkish physicians treating pediatric asthma patients.
• Data were collected from 126 physicians (57% response rate), predominantly pediatricians, regarding their knowledge and practices.

Main Results:

• Physicians reported higher knowledge scores for acute asthma management compared to chronic asthma management.
• Inhaled and oral steroids were similarly regarded for exacerbation treatment, with less frequent use of spirometry and oxygen saturation for severity assessment than physical findings.
• While most opinions aligned with guidelines, discrepancies were noted, particularly in chronic asthma management.

Conclusions:

• Physician knowledge regarding pediatric asthma management requires enhancement, especially concerning chronic disease aspects.
• There is a clear need for improved educational strategies and potentially new models for assessing chronic asthma severity to align practice with evidence-based guidelines.