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Understanding patients' perceptions of asthma control: a qualitative study
Natalie Bidad1, Neil Barnes2, Chris Griffiths3
1Centre for Behavioural Medicine, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK.
The European Respiratory Journal
|May 19, 2018
Summary
Many asthma sufferers have poor symptom control because their personal perception of "control" differs from clinical guidelines. Understanding these patient perspectives is key to improving asthma self-management and treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Qualitative Health Research
Background:
- Asthma control remains suboptimal for many patients despite available treatments.
- Patient self-management is significantly influenced by their understanding of asthma and its therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore patients' perceptions of asthma control.
- To investigate how these perceptions impact self-management behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews were conducted with 42 participants from UK asthma clinics.
- Grounded theory and thematic analysis were used to analyze interview data.
Main Results:
- Five key themes emerged regarding asthma control perceptions: personal meaning of control, intermittent prevention, compromising control to avoid medication, overemphasis on pharmacological agents, and the role of asthma review.
- Participants often tolerated symptoms considered indicative of poor control, with personal thresholds for 'out of control' asthma set higher than clinical criteria.
Conclusions:
- Patient perceptions of asthma control significantly differ from clinical benchmarks, with many tolerating poor control.
- Identifying these patient-centric barriers and drivers is crucial for developing effective strategies to optimize asthma management and improve patient outcomes.