Asthma knowledge in hospital patients with acute severe asthma.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.
Batty
K T
KT
Fremantle Hospital, WA.
Gardiner
F S
FS
Kendall
P A
PA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires