EFFECT OF PHYSICIAN - PATIENT COMMUNICATION THROUGH REGULAR FAMILY VISITS ON LEVEL OF ASTHMA CONTROL

Mohammed Hussein, Sameh; Ibrahim Sorour, Ehab; Mustafa Mohammed, Gamal Fathy

doi:10.21608/azjp.2018.77242

EFFECT OF PHYSICIAN - PATIENT COMMUNICATION THROUGH REGULAR FAMILY VISITS ON LEVEL OF ASTHMA CONTROL

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/azjp.2018.77242

Abstract

Background: Successful physician-patient communication through home visit can help asthmatic patients better manage their condition and enhance adherence. (American Academy of Asthma Allergy & Immunology between 2001).
Objectives: We aimed to assess the impact of physician –patient communication through regular family visit on level of asthma control.
Design: This is a Case control cross section based study that was carried out on 100 uncontrolled asthmatic children attending Outpatient Clinic of Chest and Allergy Unit of Pediatric Department, Al Hussein University Hospital. The asthmatic patients were recruited from Al-Hussein pulmonology and allergy outpatient clinics, from October 2016 to June 2017.
Patient And Methods: Uncontrolled asthmatic patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. Group1: 50 uncontrolled asthmatic infants and children with regular family visit for 8 weeks (case group). Group2: 50 uncontrolled asthmatic infants and children without regular family visit (control group).
Results: During first 3 visits of follow up period; both home visits group and non-home visits group experienced greater reductions in symptoms of asthma , level of uncontrolled asthma and severity of asthma with statistically insignificant difference between both group (p>0.05). During 4th ,5th and 6th visits of follow up period; Asthma proper control was significantly more prevalent among asthmatics with home intervention compared to those with clinic follow up only (p=0.040, 0.001and 0.001 for 4th ,5th and 6th visits respectively) with 6.66±1.527 in patients with uncontrolled asthma followed by 12.33±3.21 in patients with partly controlled asthma followed by 31±3.605 in patients with controlled asthma among asthmatics with home intervention while the control group in patients with uncontrolled asthma was 21.66±3.055 followed by 13.33±3.51 in patients with controlled asthma followed by 15±3 in patients with partly controlled asthma. Also during last 2 visits of follow up period; Asthma proper control was highly significantly more prevalent among asthmatics with home intervention compared to those with clinic follow up only (p=0.001 for 7th and 8th visits) with 5±1.414 in patients with uncontrolled asthma followed by 12.5±2.121 in patients with partly controlled asthma followed by 32.5±3.535 in patients with controlled asthma among asthmatics with home intervention while the control group, in patients with uncontrolled asthma was 18±1.41followed by 13.33±3.51 in patient with controlled asthma followed by 15±3 in patients with partly controlled asthma.
Conclusion: Asthma proper control was highly more prevalent among asthmatics with home intervention and this support that improving the health of a child with asthma requires a multi-faceted strategy that addresses the physical home environment, health-care utilization and medication adherence.

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