Assessing Patient Knowledge of Asthma Using a Newly Validated Tool.

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Health Education
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Asthma knowledge is crucial for effective self-management and improved patient outcomes.
• Limited validated tools exist to assess asthma knowledge in Arabic-speaking populations.
• Cultural adaptation of health education tools is essential for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Asthma Knowledge Test (AKT).
• To translate and culturally adapt the AKT into Arabic for the UAE context.
• To assess asthma knowledge among adult patients in the UAE.

Main Methods:

• The AKT was developed based on National Asthma Education and Prevention Program recommendations.
• A sample of medically diagnosed adults (18+) was recruited from UAE clinics.
• Reliability (Cronbach α) and validity (principal component analysis) were assessed; demographic differences were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The Arabic AKT demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach α = .70).
• Four key knowledge components were identified: disease prevalence, triggers/control, inhalers, and beliefs/myths.
• Higher education levels significantly correlated with higher AKT scores.

Conclusions:

• The Arabic AKT is a reliable and valid tool for assessing asthma knowledge in the UAE.
• It can identify specific knowledge gaps in patients, guiding targeted educational interventions.
• This tool enhances the limited resources available for asthma education research and clinical practice in Arabic-speaking regions.