Asthma knowledge in hospital patients with acute severe asthma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess patient knowledge about asthma management and to assess the risk of asthma-associated morbidity in patients admitted to hospital with acute severe asthma. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Patients admitted to Fremantle Hospital with a primary diagnosis of acute severe asthma from July to September 1992. RESULTS: Bronchodilator therapy has been used for more than 12 months by all 25 previously diagnosed asthmatics, with 88% knowing that the drug was a bronchodilator. Corticosteroid therapy had been used by 84% of patients but only 52% of these knew that it was anti-inflammatory or "preventive" medication. Sixty per cent of patients did not recall seeing National Asthma Campaign advertisements. Twenty-three patients (88%) were classified as being at high risk of morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The level of knowledge about asthma management in patients admitted to this hospital is poor. Most patients are at high risk of asthma-associated morbidity.