EFFECT OF PATIENT EDUCATION AND REGULAR PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW MEASUREMENT ON SELF MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA

Abstract

For better management of asthma it is essential that patients adjust their treatment according to the medical plan developed by the health care professionals. To achieve this goal, patients should assess the severity of their disease regularly. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of regular measurement of peak expiratory flow and patient education on self management of asthma. Thirty asthmatic patients (15 as study and 15 as control group) were evaluated for a period of 2 months. Patients in the study group were given a Mini-Wright peak flow metre and instructed to measure their peak expiratory flow in the mornings and evenings daily and at the beginning and end of episodes of asthma symptoms (asthma attack). They were taught to use drugs and other self care actions to control asthma attack. Patients in the control group did not use the peak flow metre and were only instructed to assess asthma severity by subjective symptoms and self care strategies. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the two groups in peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, asthma severity score, usage of bronchodilator inhaler drugs (BD), and episodes of asthma attack at the beginning of study. However, ail parameters in the study gorup (P<0.001 for peak expiratory flow and asthma severity score and P<0.01 for FEV,, BD use and episodes of asthma attack), and only episodes of asthma attack in the control group (P<0.()03) were improved at the end of the study. These results suggest that regular PEF measurement is an effective tool for assessing episodes of asthma attack and selecting proper care actions in self management of asthma.