Measuring success in asthma care

One hundred and twenty-six asthmatics in a practice of 4012 patients were interviewed at home by an undergraduate medical student. A questionnaire revealed a poor level of knowledge about asthma and its treatment. Inadequate understanding was found in 68% of parents with affected children and in 78% of adults with the disease. Treatment was thought to be sub-optimal in 32% of children and 37% of adults. Patients' symptoms were assessed on an asthma disability score of exercise limitation, night cough, wheezing episodes, time in hospital, and time off work or school. This enabled a profile of symptom severity in the sample to be constructed. The study has prompted the practice to re-examine its care of asthmatics so that diagnosis, treatment, education and supervision can become better organized.