title: Asthma knowledge and approach among Pakistani family physicians and the impact of an educational programme.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess asthma knowledge and approach among Pakistani family physicians and the impact of an educational programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 89 family physicians attending a continuing medical education programme were evaluated using a 17-item questionnaire before and after a lecture and seminar-based educational programme. Three scores -- total score (TSc), knowledge subscore (KSc) and approach subscore (ASc) -- were calculated before and after the course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 82 (92%) family physicians completed the questionnaire. A minimum TSc of > or =9 was achieved by 57% physicians before the course; this increased to 78% after the course. Physicians with < or =10 years since graduation achieved a higher baseline TSc than those who had graduated > or =20 years previously. The latter group showed a larger post-course improvement. Analysis of individual questions disclosed that 79% of family physicians were unable to assess the empirical risk of asthma in an unborn child, 61% were unable to correctly classify/treat Stage 2 asthma and a similar number peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (l/min) based acute asthma exacerbation. Reassuringly, 97% correctly identified clinical signs and 87% life-threatening features of asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of all family physicians who responded to the questionnaire, 57% achieved acceptable baseline standards. Deficiencies regarding areas such as genetic counselling and disease severity assessment were observed. Strengths in identifying clinical signs and life-threatening features were evident. Continuing medical education resulted in a significant improvement in the post-course assessment, regardless of the years since graduation.
authors.affiliation: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. suleman.haque@aku.edu
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: A B S
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Zubairi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiraz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zuberi
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pervez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awan
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires