Implementation of written asthma action plan among asthma patients in Türkiye: a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive study

Abstract

Background/aim: There is currently no data from Türkiye on whether, following a diagnosis of asthma, patients are given an asthma action plan to implement. There is also no data on whether patients can manage their treatment based on the provided asthma action plans. The present study aimed to determine the use of asthma action plans in Türkiye and the awareness levels of patients about these plans. Materials and methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the outpatient immunology, allergy, and pulmonology clinics of secondary and tertiary healthcare centers. Adult asthmatics filled out a case registration form regarding age, sex, educational status, duration of asthma, and smoking history. Subjects answered the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) assessment of control questions, indicated whether they had previously been offered an asthma action plan, and if they had received one, whether they benefited from it. Results: Data from 265 asthmatic adults (mean age: 48.4 years, standard deviation: 13.4 years), including 194 (73.2%) females were analyzed. The asthma of 212 (80.0%) patients was controlled, and was uncontrolled in 53 (20.0%) patients. An asthma action plan had been mentioned to 91 (34.3%) of the 265 patients. Among these 91 patients, 85 (93.4%) had been given a written asthma action plan, and 85 (93.4%) stated that they had benefited from the plan. The rate of being given an asthma action plan was significantly lower for illiterate patients than for patients with any education (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The rate of mentioning an asthma action plan to asthmatic patients is low. However, almost all patients who received an asthma action plan benefitted significantly from the plan. Thus, it is important to give asthmatic patients an action plan, ideally in written form. © TÜBİTAK.