Beliefs that support the behavior of people with asthma: a qualitative investigation.
Differences between patients' knowledge and behavior in relation to asthma may account for continuing morbidity in theface of professional and public asthma education campaigns. We conducted a qualitative study of beliefs that support asthma-related behavior, obtaining data from interviews with 70 adult patients. Analysis identified four clear subgroups, or "streams," of adults with asthma: an "anonymous" stream, who doubt that they have asthma and manage symptoms outside the organized health system; an "isolated" stream, who feel dependent on bronchodilators and do not understand the potential of preventive therapy; a "suboptimal" stream, who are confident that they are managing their asthma effectively but who are excessively reliant on bronchodilators; and an "optimal stream," who have high expectations of outcomes and participate actively in a partnership with a doctor. Characteristics of the doctor and the doctor-patient relationship are important elements in altering asthma-related behavior in ways that may facilitate the best health outcomes.
Harris
G S
GS
Health Explorers Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. gsh@ozemail.com.au
Shearer
A G
AG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology