The impact of asthma management guideline dissemination on the control of asthma in the community.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the impact of asthma management education on the control of asthma in the community.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study comparing three communities.


METHODS
Three rural communities in southern Alberta.


METHODS
A population sample of patients with asthma attending a pharmacy to fill a prescription for asthma medication were selected from three communities. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire relating to their asthma management and control.


METHODS
Three levels of asthma management education were provided in the three communities with populations of 6000 to 10,000. The levels of education ranged from standard continuing medical education programs relating to the national asthma guidelines and a visiting asthma nurse educator to the establishment of an asthma clinic and a multiple-target, intensive education program for health professionals, town leaders, local media, schools and the public. The survey of the population with asthma was conducted approximately one year after the education program had been completed.


RESULTS
A total of 327 completed questionnaires were submitted. Analysis showed that there was no significant difference that could be attributed to the intervention in the management of asthma or in the level of asthma control among the patients from the three communities.


CONCLUSIONS
The more intense levels of education used to disseminate the content of the national asthma management guidelines did not translate into improved asthma control in the community.
Cowie
R L
RL
University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. cowie@ucalgary.ca
Underwood
M F
MF
Mack
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic