Association between asthma self-management knowledge and asthma control in the elderly.

BACKGROUND Considerable evidence points to the importance of patient education in achieving better asthma control. However, little is known about the effect of older adults' asthma knowledge on asthma control. OBJECTIVE To identify the relation between asthma self-management knowledge and short-term asthma control in older adults. METHODS The study included 82 patients with asthma undergoing usual asthma care who were interviewed by the same trained allergist. At the same time, the authors conducted an asthma knowledge questionnaire, an Asthma Control Test, skin prick testing, spirometry, and evaluation of inhaler device technique. The Turkish version of the asthma knowledge questionnaire was administered to all participants in face-to-face interviews. The relation between asthma knowledge and asthma control was tested by regression analysis. RESULTS The education level was below the secondary level in 79% of patients; 59% of patients were obese; and 44% of patients had mild, 41% had moderate, and 5% had severe persistent asthma. The atopy rate was 21%. The most common sensitization was to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Fifty-two percent of patients had uncontrolled asthma; 22 patients showed proper use of the inhaler device. Forty patients (48%) had limited asthma knowledge. The main source of asthma knowledge was from physicians for 81% of patients. There was no significant association between patients' asthma knowledge and asthma control level (P = .991). CONCLUSION Knowledge of asthma was very low in elderly patients and usual asthma care was largely insufficient. These findings suggest that asthma education programs should be developed for older adults based on their education level and clinical asthma characteristics.