Introduction Objective Methodology Results Discussion

91 Improving Asthma Care in Ministry of Health Primary Care Clinics ABSTRACT Improving Asthma Care in Ministry of Health Primary Care Clinics Shahnul Kamal Sidek¹, Siti Khadijah Hawari², Kok-Seng Teng³, Normah Mohd Zin 4 , Zainab Noordin 5 , Paranthaman Vengadasalam 6 , Amar-Singh HSS 7,8 , Sondi Sararaks 10 , Ranjit Kaur Praim Singh 9 , Asmah Zainal Abidin 9 1 Tanjung Malim Health Clinic 2 Gunung Rapat Health Clinic 3 Taiping Hospital 4 Ministry of Health MOH 5 Kampar Health Clinic 6 Jelapang Health Clinic 7 Clinical Research Centre Perak 8 Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun Ipoh, Perak 9 Perak State Health Department 10 Institute for Health System Research Introduction Objectives The goal of asthma treatment should be optimum asthma control. This study was carried out to improve asthma management among adolescents and adults attending Ministry of Health Primary Health Care clinics, in the Kinta and Batang Padang Districts by using the Asthma Control Test ACT as part of the asthma plan and asthma handbook to educate patient for self-empowerment. Methodology It was a non-controlled convenient quota sampling community trial from August 2008 to February 2009 in 6 government health clinics. Asthma patients who fulfilled the criteria and received treatment during the study period were sampled. Interventions included giving patients a self-administrated test card using the ACT, assistance by a trained healthcare provider and measurement of peak flow rate PEFR at every clinic visit. Healthcare providers were given revised GINA guidelines and were educated about ACT and PEFR use. To reinforce education to the patient, Asthma Action Plan which includes ACT scoring for self-assessment, Asthma Control Handbook and Asthma Treatment Records were introduced. Results Of the total 634 respondents, 516 77.1 completed the study. 118 respondents were dropped due to default in follow up and non-availability of outcomes. Comparing the baseline and post intervention sociodemographic characteristics, there is no significant difference between gender, ethnicity and age group between those that completed and those failed to complete the study. Majority of them were Malays, female and aged