Ensayo clínico aleatorio para evaluar la eficacia de una intervención educativa desarrollada en atención primaria sobre asmáticos adultos

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of an educational intervention on asthma control and quality of life. DESIGN: A randomised clinical trial of patients with asthma, with an intervention group (IG) and a control (GC). Asthma control and quality of life was measured in both groups at baseline and every three months for one a year. Blinding was only possible in the collection and analysis of data. LOCATION: Two urban Primary Care Health Centres PARTICIPANTS: A total of 163 patients aged 18 to 55 years were included: 84 were assigned to the IG and 79 to the CG. The follow-up was completed by 104 patients (GI: 55 and GC 49). INTERVENTION: GI: Three educational sessions in small interactive groups. The first session was at the beginning of spring, the second 15 days later, and the third 6 months later, to recall the knowledge. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Asthma control level and quality of life using ACT(Asthma Control Test) and the AQLQ (Asthma Quality of life Questionnaire). RESULTS: In the third month, statistically significant differences were detected in the percentage of patients with good control [(P=.0002), 75% in the GI, and 48.5% in the GC, Relative Risk (RR)=1.6 [1.2 to 2.1], Number Needed to Treat (NNT)=3.8 [2.4 to 9.4], and an improvement in levels of quality of life from baseline (P=.005), RR=2.3 [1.3 to 4.1], NNT: 4.3 [2.6 to 12.4]. No differences were detected in the remaining sessions. CONCLUSIONS: These interventions are effective in improving the control and quality of life in short-term, which can guide us in choosing the best time to do it.