Perceived Asthma Control Care and Health Care Participation in Patients with Asthma

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most severe and life-threatening health problems, the better control of which is one of the main goals in asthma management to be achieved by patients’ balanced participation in the treatment process. This study aimed to investigate asthma control, perceived care, and health care participation in patients with asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study included 221 asthmatic patients, who were selected using the convenience sampling method from those referring to pulmonary clinics in Kerman, Iran. The required data were collected using three questionnaires including Asthma Control Test (ACT), Perceived Care of Asthma Questionnaire (PCAQ), and Partners in Health Scale (PIH). The linear regression test was used to analyze the collected data with SPSS software version 21. RESULTS: In this study, 14.31, 42.22, and 87.33% of the patients had a favorable condition in asthma control, perceived asthma care, health participation, respectively. The disease duration was significantly associated with the level of perceived asthma care. Moreover, perceived asthma care had a significant relationship only with occupation. From another perspective, the relationship between marital status, level of education, city of residence, disease duration, and occupation with health care participation was significant. CONCLUSION: Patients would have more control over asthma if there were training programs underpinned by disease-based strategies and educational content regarding the risk factors of the disease, and the patients’ experience and knowledge of the disease were promoted. Furthermore, reinforcing self-control and perceived asthma care skills and involving patients in healthcare process would also enhance the disease control.