Abstract
BackgroundAsthma accounts for significant global morbidity and health-care costs. It is still poorly understood among health professionals and the general population. Consequently, there are significant morbidity and mortality rates throughout the globe. The aim of this study was to develop a framework to increase asthma awareness at Chitungwiza Hospital, Zimbabwe.MethodsA modified Delphi model was used to collect data to develop a framework for increasing asthma awareness. At baseline (round 1) in-depth interviews with 44 medical doctors were carried out to understand the level of asthma awareness. Round 2 data collection was in the form of a workshop involving a total of 15 doctors, 30 nurses, four public relations officers, and two health education and promotion officers. The same participants who were engaged in round 2 were also involved in the third round where consensus was achieved by the health professionals.ResultsOur study showed that awareness to asthma among health care providers was affected by mimicry of symptoms and lack of continuous education on asthma. Our study showed lack of Information Education and Communication (IEC) material and lack of use of bulk messages affected asthma awareness. Our study showed that clinical meetings on asthma, having asthma training manuals, (IEC) materials and guidelines for asthma diagnosis and management could improve health care providers’ awareness of asthma. Bulk messages on asthma through network providers, social media and bill boards, commemorating world asthma day, edutainment, asthma ambassadors and multimedia were suggested as means of improving awareness of asthma among the public.ConclusionWe concluded that awareness of asthma can be improved using a framework. Such a framework ultimately improves the quality of asthma care.
Highlights
Asthma accounts for significant global morbidity and health-care costs
Theme 1: asthma awareness among health care providers The respondents interviewed in this phase indicated there was a general lack of awareness of asthma and it’s symptoms among healthcare providers
Some of the sentiments expressed by the interviewees are indicated in Asthma awareness among patients and the general public Our study revealed that interview respondents concurred on the need for creating awareness for asthma among the public through the use of bill boards, bulk messages that are transmitted through network providers, use of asthma champions, social media, commemorations of world asthma days and use of multimedia (Table 1)
Summary
Asthma accounts for significant global morbidity and health-care costs It is still poorly understood among health professionals and the general population. Despite the high global mortality rate due to asthma, it is still not fully understood among health professionals and the general population [3]. To our knowledge there are no frameworks to ensure that the health messages for asthma reach the health care workforce and patients. It has been reported that effective asthma control in patients and the population at large depends on their ability to recognise the range of factors influencing the management of the disease [6]
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