Evaluation of education program in an asthmatic cohort in a French Caribbean island

Abstract

Objective: This 3-year study assessed the effectiveness of the therapeutic education unit in the asthma school in Guadeloupe (France). Methods: The therapeutic education unit is an outpatient structure. First, patient acquisitions before and immediately after education were compared. Second, asthma control and morbidity indicators were evaluated 12 months after education by a telephone survey. Results: Over three years, 1177 patients were included. Different groups were constituted according to inclusion in the program at baseline, or their follow-up. The assessment carried out 12 months after education concerned 675 patients who were able to be contacted. Before and immediately after education, an evaluation showed improvement in all parameters such as control of inhalation technique, knowledge of the disease, compliance, and asthma control. The results showed a significant improvement in morbidity indicators. In contrast, patients who did not follow the education program had a significant increase in incidents after 12 months. Most of them were less than 15 years old. Discussion: In patients who followed the asthma education program, there was a significant decrease in morbidity criteria and an increase in quality of asthma control. However, patients lost to follow-up were most frequently teenagers. Conclusion: In Guadeloupe, where the prevalence of asthma and resulting hospitalizations are greater than in the other French departments, it is important to improve and to support education programs.