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3.4 Variables
Variables Operational Definition
Measuring scale
Age of patient Age of patient in completed years
obtained from self reporting in the asthma action plan leaflet
Years
Gender Sex of patient obtained from self
reporting in the asthma action plan leaflet
Male Female
Height Height of patient in centimeters
obtained by staff measurement of patients at time of clinic visit,
using a Seca scale Centimeter cm
Current Patient Medications
Drugs used for asthma management by the patient
at the time of current visit as obtained from self reporting in
the asthma action plan leaflet Short-acting beta
2
-agonist Salbutamol Terbutaline
Inhaled corticosteroids Budesonide Beclomethasone
Sustained release theophylline Oral prednisolone
Long-acting beta
2
-agonist Symbicort Seretide
Leukotrienes modifier Singulair
PEFR Lung function of patient obtained
from staff measurement of patients at time of clinic visit
using an adult peak flow meter – best of 3 attempts
Litreminute Lmin
Asthma Control Control of asthma of the
patient as assessed using the GINA Revised 2006 Guidelines
conducted at the time of clinic visit, by the healthcare provider
Uncontrolled Partially controlled
Controlled
Asthma Control Test ACT
A validated self-reported questionnaire to assess asthma
control of the patient, conducted at the time of clinic visit with
staff assistance before seeing the healthcare provider
5-14 – Uncontrolled 15-19 – Partially controlled
20-25 – Controlled
Status asthmaticus
Any life-threatening form of asthma that needs immediate
referral to hospital. Number of patient
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3.5 Technique of Data Collection
Data on demography age, gender, height were recorded in the AAP, and a copy was kept at the clinic. Data on PEFR reading and ACT score were recorded in the
asthma action plan, and a copy was kept at the clinic. The data were then analysed using the SPSS program.
4.0 RESULTS
4.1 Sociodemographic Characteristics
At the beginning of the study, 634 asthmatic patients from all the 6 participating clinics had fulfilled the criteria and intervened. All the respondents were registered
and given the intervention package.
Of the total 634 respondents, 516 completed the study. 118 respondents were dropped due to default in follow up and no outcomes available. Among the reasons
was inability to make contact and possible change place of treatment.
Details of socio-demographic characteristic are shown in Table 1. There is no significant difference between gender, ethnicity and age group between these
two groups.
4.2 Key Outcomes
The results Table 2 show that compared to the baseline, there is a significant decrease in percent of those with a PEFR of 60, those with ACT score of 15 and
poor asthma control clinically. There is also a significant improvement in proportion of those with an ACT score of 20-25, those clinically classified as controlled as well
as higher use of preventer medication.
4.3 Comparison on Change in Asthma Control Based on ACT in the Post Intervention Cohort
The percentage of controlled asthma changed from 39.7to 52.9 refer Table 3. There is also a reduction in the proportion of those uncontrolled asthma from 25.6
to 13.8. There is significant relationship in asthma control with gender and Indian ethnicity. There is no relationship between asthma control and age category.
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