[Evaluation of asthma disease perception from China national asthma control survey]

Objective: In order to evaluate disease perception of asthma patients in urban China and provide evidence for further specific patient education. Methods: A multi-center, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was carried out in 30 general hospitals dispersed in 30 provinces of mainland China (except for Tibet) during Oct 2015 to May 2016. Information of disease perception [Question 1: the disease nature of asthma; Question 2: medication choice of first-line in chronic asthma; Question 3: the occasion of using short-acting aerosols of receptor agonists; Question 4: perception of asthma treatment goal; Question 5: reason for not using peak flow meter (PFM)] were collected from asthma patients of outpatient department. These results were compared with the same type of survey results from 2007-2008. Results: Altogether 3 875 asthmatic outpatients were recruited. 69.0% (2 660/3 857) of the patients had right perception on the disease nature of asthma, 60.2% (2 321/3 857) of the patients considered inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting beta2-agonists (ICS+ LABA) as daily-used first-line medication for chronic asthma. 85.7% (3 277/3 823) of the patients had right perception on the condition of using short-acting beta2-agonists (SABA). 75.4% (2 761/3 661) of the patients had right perception on asthma treatment goal. Only 10.1% (388/3 837) of the patients used PFM. Of the reasons for not using PFM, 65.2% (2 518/3 860) of the patients chose doctors never introduced. Among the 10 cities, which were also involved in the asthma control survey in 2007-2008, 71.1% (968/1 361) of the patients had right perception on the disease nature of asthma, 61.6% (839/1 362) of the patients considered ICS/ICS+ LABA as daily-used first-line medication for chronic asthma. 88.7% (1 207/1 361) of the patients had right perception on the condition of using SABA. 74.5% (1 013/1 360) of the patients had right perception on asthma treatment goal. 17.9% (244/1 360) of the patients used PFM. Of the reasons for not using PFM, 76.2% (931/1 221) of the patients chose doctors never introduced. Compared to the survey conducted in 2007-2008, the perception on disease nature and medication choice as daily-used first-line medication for chronic asthma significantly improved, the perception on occasion of using SABA and asthma treatment goal was comparable, while the rate of PFM usage showed no significant improvement. In reasons of not using PFM, doctors never introduced ranked the first. Conclusions: Compared to the similar survey conducted in 2007-2008, the overall status of disease perception of asthma patients has been improved in urban China, while the rate of PFM usage showed no significant improvement. Asthma education on asthma and asthma self-management should be further pushed forward.