Effect of an individualised education programme on asthma control, inhaler use skill, asthma knowledge and health‐related quality of life among poorly compliant Korean adult patients with asthma

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of an individualised education programme on asthma control, inhaler use, asthma knowledge and health-related quality of life among poorly compliant adult Korean patients with asthma. Previous studies show that proper educational strategies are necessary to increase asthma knowledge and skills to improve patients' self-management and health-related quality of life. A one-group quasi-experimental design with repeated measurements. Adult patients with asthma (n = 101) were recruited from University hospital located in K City, Korea. Three interventions consisting of 30-minute sessions of individualised education were provided by an education team. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), daily record card (DRC) scores, skill scores for use of metered dose inhaler, level of asthma knowledge and health-related quality of life scores were obtained before the intervention and 2-4 and 4-8 weeks after the intervention. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to identify the effect of the education programme on the dependent variables. Peak expiratory flow rate, DRC scores, inhaler using skill scores and health-related quality of life scores benefitted from intervention, whereas knowledge score did not. The effect on the PEFR and DRC score was sustained, with that of inhaler use skill increased over time from 4-8 weeks. However, the health-related quality of life effect was not sustained for 4-8 weeks after the intervention. Repetitive education and innovative education methods may be needed to improve and to maintain pulmonary function, symptom control, asthma knowledge and health-related quality of life of poorly compliant adult Korean patients with asthma. This study confirmed the importance of education for patients suffering from asthma in managing their symptoms and promoting their quality of life.