Patient experience, understanding and self-management of asthma attacks: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Patient Experience Research

Background:

• Asthma attacks (AA) are severe, life-threatening events with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.
• Current literature inadequately describes patient experiences, impact, and understanding of asthma attacks.
• Understanding patient perspectives is crucial for developing personalized asthma management and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patients' lived experiences and understanding of asthma attacks.
• To investigate the impact of asthma attacks on patients' lives.
• To examine self-management strategies employed by patients during asthma attacks.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with 30 patients in the UK who had experienced recent asthma attacks (within 4 weeks).
• Data analysis utilized the framework approach to systematically analyze patient narratives.
• The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04410120).

Main Results:

• Significant variation exists in how patients perceive and experience asthma attacks, including recognizing prodromal symptoms.
• Patient self-management behaviors during attacks varied, influenced by previous attack experiences and healthcare interactions.
• Identified high-risk behaviors included short-acting β-agonist (SABA) overuse, underestimation of risks, and delayed medical help-seeking, alongside a general lack of understanding regarding AA management.

Conclusions:

• Patient experiences and understanding of asthma attacks differ considerably.
• These variations, influenced by healthcare factors and attack specifics, shape patient self-management.
• The findings underscore significant unmet needs in the clinical care and patient education surrounding asthma attacks.