Physicians' assessment of asthma control in low vs. high asthma-related morbidity regions.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze physician-assessed asthma control and care compared with current guidelines criteria, in a cohort of patients from a high (HMR) vs. low asthma-related morbidity region (LMR), as determined by a large-scale populational survey (asthma cartography).


METHODS
Analysis of questionnaires provided by 47 primary care physicians and asthmatic patients (HMR: 74; LMR: 73).


RESULTS
Asthma control was often suboptimal in both regions. In both regions, asthma control, the pattern of prescriptions for asthma, patient compliance, and referral for asthma education were similar; 32% of patients had been referred for asthma education, whereas 65% wanted to know more about their asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of regional/local cohort studies differ from those of a "population cartography," the former probably more likely reflecting individual medical practices of physicians interested in taking part in such studies.
Boulet
Louis-Philippe
LP
Institut de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de l'Université Laval, Hôpital Laval, Québec Qc, Canada. lpboulet@med.ulaval.ca
Thivierge
Robert L
RL
Bellera
Carine
C
Dorval
Eileen
E
Collet
Jean-Paul
JP
D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010045:Outpatients; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents