Evaluation of self-management education for asthmatic patients

Self-management of asthma, achieved through an effective educational program for asthmatic patients, is very important in facilitating adaptation to illness and positive response to treatment. An effective self-management plan helps patients to gain information about and skills in life style modifications, self-monitoring, and environmental control. The study, both descriptive and analytic, was planned as a means to evaluate the need of asthmatic patients for self-management education and to design supportive educational programs. The study group consisted of 42 adult patients who were chosen randomly from among patients treated in the Chest Diseases Department of the Medical Faculty of Istanbul University. The following evaluation tools were used: St. George Respiratory Questionnaire, a questionnaire designed by the research team, and patients' asthma diaries. The survey form designed by the research team included questions about demographic characteristics, asthma triggering factors, and morbidity factors. An asthma educational program, consisting of one session that lasted for 120 minutes, was implemented by doctors and nurses in cooperation and, 2 months later, patients were followed up. After completion of the educational program, it was found that patients related their health during the last month and the extent to which they drew benefits from their treatment with higher scores, the result clearly stating that the impact of asthma on their lives has experienced a decrease. The educational program was thus implemental in improving the quality of patients' lives. Results have finally shown that our educational program can be used as a model by other health care centers in our country.