Asthmatic patient’s preferences regarding frequency of physician consultation

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: To identify patient’s factors from their clinical picture and demographics, and recognize their association and influence on frequency of physician visit. METHOD: Study was conducted in Karachi from January – December 2019. Primary data was collected from 255 asthmatic patients that visited different hospitals, homeopathic and herbal clinics. Questionnaire included patient’s demographic details, treatment choice for asthma and satisfaction level with different treatments. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS 20. RESULT: Among 255 asthmatic patients, 101 visited 5 – 7 times to physician from the past year, 48 visited 8–10 times and 27 went to physician more than 10 times in past 12 months. While 30 patients did not visit the physician even once and only 20 patients visited 1–2 times in the last year. From clinical factors, association of severity (p = 0.0001), limitation (p = 0.0001) and side effects (p = 0.003) with physician visit were found to be statistically significant. In addition, among demographics, age (p = 0.004), education (p = 0.0001), income (p = 0.0001) and having pets (p = 0.007) were found to be significant factors associated with physician visit for asthma in the past year. CONCLUSION: Most of the asthmatic patients covered in the study visited the physician more than five times during the last year and chose allopathic treatment for asthma. Age, education, severity and side effects of asthma treatment were some of the significant factors associated with physician visit. Patients with frequent follow up visits to the physician were satisfied with their treatment.