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Biomedical subjects

E Van Ganse

Publications and source records attributed to E Van Ganse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Medication use and disease control of asthmatic patients in Flanders: a cross-sectional community pharmacy study.

The aim of this study was to describe medication use and disease management of asthmatic patients and to evaluate the usefulness of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) in community pharmacies. In 54 Flemish community pharmacies 166 asthmatic patients were included in the study. At inclusion, the study persons completed a survey to assess subject characteristics, symptoms and asthma attacks, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured. Furthermore, the actual level of asthma control was assessed by ACT, a clinically validated measure of asthma control. Prescribed medicine data of the patients were 1 year retrospectively analysed from the prescriptions. Mean age of the sample was 36.8 year, 23% were smokers. As maintenance treatment, 63% of the patients used a combination product containing an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-agonist in a single inhaler. According to ACT, 49.1% of the patients were insufficiently controlled. Only 4.9% of the patients had a maximal ACT score of 25, indicating complete asthma control; 46.0% of the study population obtained an ACT score between 20 and 24, meaning that their asthma is well controlled. In contrast, 30.7% of the patients had a score between 15 and 19, indicating uncontrolled asthma. In all, 18.4% obtained ACT scores of less than 15, meaning that their asthma was seriously out of control and necessitating referral to their general practitioner or lung specialist. Importantly, the correlation between the self-perceived level of asthma control and the objective assessment of the asthma control level was poor: 82.3% of the patients believed their asthma to be totally or well controlled, while this was the fact for only 50.9% of the patients. In conclusion, the ACT appears to be a useful tool to determine rapidly and accurately the level of asthma control in patients presenting at community pharmacies.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Management of asthma in patients supervised by primary care physicians or by specialists.

French asthma patients may be supervised by general practitioners (GPs) and/or specialists. Therefore, this study examined asthma management in patients exclusively supervised by specialists (SPE), GPs, (GP) and both (GP+SPE group), and compared the findings. Asthma patients were consecutively recruited in 348 pharmacies. Each patient completed a questionnaire providing data on personal characteristics, asthma management, perception of disease and asthma supervision. Asthma control was measured using the Asthma Control Test. Questionnaires were linked to computerised records of medications which had been dispensed before inclusion in the study. From the 1,256 patients (mean age = 36.1 yrs, 54.3% females), 11.4, 36.6, and 52.0% were placed in the SPE, GP, and GP+SPE groups, respectively. During the previous 4 weeks, most patients in the SPE group were properly controlled (52.2 versus 26.4 and 21.5% in GP and GP+SPE groups, respectively). The SPE group made more use of fixed combinations of long-acting beta agonist and inhaled corticosteroid, while receiving less short-acting beta agonists, antitussives and antibiotics. Striking differences in symptoms and asthma management were observed according to the type of asthma supervision. The current results strongly support the need to improve the management of asthma in primary care, and the coordination of care between general practitioners and specialists.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Long-term achievement of the therapeutic objectives of lipid-lowering agents in primary prevention patients and cardiovascular outcomes: an observational study.

AIMS: Lowering elevated cholesterol levels reduces cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, most patients treated with lipid-lowering agents (LLA) do not reach recommended therapeutic objectives. In a setting of primary care in France, we investigated the association between LDL-cholesterol goal attainment and the occurrence of CV events in primary prevention patients with multiple CV risk factors (> or = 3). According to national guidelines, the therapeutic objective (TO) for such patients is an LDL-cholesterol value below 130 mg/dL. METHODS: 579 patients treated with LLA and with LDL-cholesterol values documented at least once a year over a period of at least 3 years (2000-2002) were allocated to three groups based on the number of years the TO was attained during the follow-up period: in all 3 years (TO+++: n=145), only part of the time (TO intermediate: n=256), and never (TO---: n=178). CV events (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, peripheral artery disease) occurring during the last year of observation (2002) were retrospectively collected. The occurrence risk (OR) of CV events was assessed based on TO status, with a logistic regression model to adjust for baseline differences in CV risk factors. RESULTS: Only a quarter of patients attained TO during all 3 study years. CV events during the third year of observation occurred in 5.5%, 10.5% and 12.9% of patients in the TO+++, TO intermediate and TO--- groups, respectively. Compared with TO+++ patients, the risk of CV events increased significantly in TO intermediate (OR=2.34, 95% CI=[1.01-5.39]) and TO--- patients (OR=2.99, 95% CI=[1.26-7.08]). CONCLUSION: In real practice, a prolonged attainment of TO is rarely observed in high CV risk patients treated with LLA as primary prevention. Therapeutic failure is related to an increased incidence of cardiovascular morbidity. Our data strongly support the need to improve adherence to treatment guidelines to achieve effective cardiovascular prevention.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Asthma-related resource use and cost by GINA classification of severity in three European countries.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the relationship between asthma burden and asthma severity in France, Italy, and Spain. METHODS: Adult asthmatics, 18-55 years of age, completed a questionnaire while visiting a respiratory physician in 1998 and 1999. Asthma severity was categorized by physicians as intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, or severe persistent according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. RESULTS: Totals of 282 patients in France, 500 in Italy, and 296 in Spain entered the study. There were few differences between the three countries in the asthma symptom burden. Most patients with persistent asthma had used inhaled corticosteroids in the previous 14 days. Unexpectedly, 35% (Italy) to 83% (Spain) of patients with intermittent asthma also had used inhaled corticosteroids. In Spain, visits to the emergency department were more frequent (OR 7.0, 95% CI 4.9-10.0 with Italy as reference) and the costs of emergency care in all asthma severity categories were up to 10 times higher than in Italy and France. The frequency of hospitalizations did not differ systematically between the three countries. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate control of asthma symptoms among patients with severe persistent asthma could not be entirely explained by under-prescribing of asthma medications. The use of inhaled corticosteroids by patients with intermittent asthma might reflect misclassification of asthma severity, possibly due to difficulty in interpreting the GINA guidelines. The relatively high cost of emergency care in Spain does not appear to be related to greater asthma severity or poorer symptom control, but may be a feature of the Spanish health care system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Ineffectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Evidence confirms the positive effects of lipid-lowering agents on the risk of cardiovascular disease. Local guidelines in France (AFSSAPS) have defined therapeutic objectives for LDL-cholesterol. These objectives vary with the number of cardiovascular risk factors in addition to dyslipidaemia. We determined the proportions of patients at therapeutic objective in different classes of cardiovascular risk to test the hypothesis that compliance with guidelines varies across the levels of risk. Comparison with international guidelines (ANDEM) was also performed. METHODS: A group of 3173 dyslipidaemic patients treated with lipid-lowering agents and managed by general practitioners was randomly selected from BKL-Thales panel, a French computerized database. For each patient, history of coronary heart disease and the number of cardiovascular risk factors were documented. Compliance with guidelines was assessed from achievement of therapeutic objective. RESULTS: The study population included 79% primary prevention patients (1.6, 25.5, 31.7 and 20.1%, with 1, 2, 3, and >3 risk factors, respectively) and 21.0% secondary prevention patients. Applying AFSSAPS guidelines, the proportions of primary prevention patients not at LDL-cholesterol objectives varied across risk categories (P < 0.0001), from 3.9% for patients with one risk factor to 46.5% for patients with >3 risk factors, and therapeutic failure reached 39.9% in secondary prevention. Only 26% of patients who were at high cardiovascular risk (>3 risk factors or prior coronary heart disease) and not at therapeutic objective received high doses (>standard recommended doses) of lipid-lowering agents in monotherapy. Applying ANDEM guidelines, 74% of secondary prevention patients were not at treatment goal. CONCLUSION: Compliance with guidelines varied inversely with the level of cardiovascular risk. Besides, most patients not at therapeutic objective were not up-titrated. The use of lipid-lowering agents is inadequate, depriving many patients of an effective protection against cardiovascular diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Trends in prescribing and utilization of statins and other lipid lowering drugs across Europe 1997-2003.

AIMS: To describe trends in utilization and prescribing of statins and other lipid lowering drugs across Europe from data in routine administrative databases. METHODS: Observational study in EU member states and Norway. Comparison of annual utilization data for lipid lowering agents by class and drug from national administrative databases for reimbursement over the period 1997-2003, measured in DDDs per 1000 inhabitants/day. Prescribed daily doses (PDD) of statins obtained from a commercial database (IMS Health) for 2000 and 2003, and used to calculate numbers of "patient treatment days" (PTD) in each country in each year. Analysis of PTD to explain increased utilization of statins. RESULTS: Use of lipid lowering agents varied among countries (in 2003, highest in Ireland and Norway, and lowest in Italy), but increased in all countries studied (between 2000 and 2003 by 274% in Ireland and by 56% in France). This increase was entirely due to increases in statin use. Prescribed daily doses of statins increased in all countries for which data was available between 2000 and 2003, but still usually fell below the doses used in the major trials of statins. As a result, the numbers of PTDs increased to a lesser extent than suggested by utilization (e.g. by 192% in Ireland and by 35% in France). One-third of the total rise in utilization was explained by increased PDD, and two-thirds by an increase in numbers of PTDs. Statins dominated the markets in all countries, although fibrates remained strong in France and Belgium (approximately 25% of all lipid lowering agents) and to a lesser extent Germany (10%). CONCLUSIONS: Use of statins across Europe has increased hugely over the study period. Some of the increase in use is due to higher prescribed daily doses, but two-thirds is due to increases in numbers of patient days of treatment, either due to more patients treated or less likely to better compliance.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMed2005

Costs associated with persistent allergic rhinitis are reduced by levocetirizine.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis was recently classified by the ARIA guidelines as persistent or intermittent. Levocetirizine was shown to improve symptoms and health-related quality of life of patients with persistent allergic rhinitis in the XPERT study, a 6-month randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To assess the total costs of persistent allergic rhinitis, and the effect of long-term treatment with levocetirizine on these costs from several perspectives (societal, social security system, and employers). METHODS: Direct medical cost parameters (medications, physician visits and hospitalizations) and time lost parameters (workdays and Usual Daily Activities (UDA) lost) related to persistent allergic rhinitis and its comorbidities (asthma, sinusitis, otitis and upper respiratory infection) were measured. A cost analysis was performed using 2002 French costing data. RESULTS: From a societal perspective, the total cost of persistent allergic rhinitis without long-term treatment was estimated at 355.06/patient/month. From a social security perspective, levocetirizine treatment yielded an additional cost of 2.78/patient/month, compared to no-treatment. However, levocetirizine reduced the total cost of persistent allergic rhinitis and its comorbidities by 152.93/patient/month from a societal perspective and by 64.70/patient/month from an employer perspective. Most gains resulted from a decrease in the lost workdays and UDA in the levocetirizine group. CONCLUSION: The cost of persistent allergic rhinitis is substantial. Treatment with levocetirizine reduces the cost of persistent allergic rhinitis and its comorbidities to the society by 152.93/patient/month while improving symptoms and health-related quality of life.

Cetirizine↗
PubMed2005

Quality of asthma care: results from a community pharmacy based survey.

BACKGROUND: Optimal control is a major objective of disease management of asthma. The aim of the present study was to provide descriptive data on disease management in asthma patients, including medical resource utilization. METHODS: Asthma patients (age 18-50 years) were consecutively recruited in 348 dispensing pharmacies. They completed a questionnaire which collected data on personal characteristics, asthma management, including medical resource utilization, including asthma management. Asthma control was measured with the Asthma Control Test. Data from computerized pharmacy records of medications, dispensed before inclusion, were also collected. RESULTS: In 1791 eligible patients, 1559 accepted to participate in the study (mean age = 36.5, 56.1% of females). During the previous 4 weeks, the asthma control was satisfactory for only 28% of the patients, despite extensive provision of anti-inflammatory asthma control treatments (89%). Combinations of long acting beta agonists (LABA) and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) were commonly used (59%), while fewer patients received LABA and ICS as two separate medications (15%). In addition, short-acting beta agonists, were frequently dispensed (71%). A substantial number of patients consulted their GPs on a monthly basis. Patients commonly reported daily shortness of breath (30%), daily use of rescue medication (29%) and weekly nocturnal symptoms (32%). Surprisingly, most patients considered their asthma as completely or well controlled (76%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly identify a need to improve the management of asthma. Education programmes would be beneficial to improve asthma control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of national administrative and commercial databases to monitor expenditure and costs of statins across Europe.

OBJECTIVES: To compare data on statin utilisation and costs across Europe from routine administrative databases with those from a commercial source. METHODS: Observational study in European Union member states and Norway. Comparison of data collected from national administrative databases used to reimburse pharmacists and data from a standard commercial source (Intercontinental Marketing Services Health): detailed data by drug for the year 2000. RESULTS: There were differences among the data from administrative databases and those from the commercial source; these differences were of a consistent pattern in each country. In general, the commercial data recorded greater utilisation (reflecting both public and private use, range from 0 to +55%, median +15%), lower cost per defined daily doses (as commercial data sources used ex-factory price rather than expenditure to the state used in administrative databases, range from -70% to -6%, median -39%) and similar utilisation per 1000 head of population per day (range from -15 to +47%, median -1%). CONCLUSIONS: Administrative databases can give useful utilisation data, which are broadly comparable with those from commercial sources. Cost data differ more, and the figures for each may be useful in different settings. Standards for data collection from the administrative databases are required.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed2002

Comparative tolerability of paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen for short-term analgesia in patients with musculoskeletal conditions: results in 4291 patients.

The aim of this blinded, randomised, multicentre study was to compare the tolerability of aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen in common pain resulting from musculoskeletal conditions (MSC) in general practice with patients with other non-MSC pain conditions. Patients took aspirin, paracetamol (both up to 3g daily) or ibuprofen (up to 1.2g daily) for up to 7 days. The main outcome was the rate of significant adverse events (SGAE). Four thousand two hundred and ninety one patients with MSC were evaluable (1436 aspirin, 1423 paracetamol, 1432 ibuprofen) and 4101 (95.5%) were per-protocol. A group of 4342 patients included for other (non-MSC) mild to moderate pain conditions was used for comparison. In the MSC group, SGAE were reported by 20.5% of patients with aspirin, 17.0% with paracetamol and 15.0% with ibuprofen. Ibuprofen was statistically equivalent to paracetamol and better tolerated than aspirin (p <0.0001). Ibuprofen was associated with fewer digestive system AE (4.4%) than aspirin (8.6%, p<0.0001) and paracetamol (6.5%, p <0.02). The non-MSC group showed similar intertreatment differences, but experienced fewer SGAE. No serious digestive events were observed with any of the three treatments in either group. These results show that in patients with mild to moderate pain resulting from MSC, ibuprofen given in OTC doses for 6 days is as well tolerated as paracetamol and better tolerated than aspirin.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2002

Persistent asthma: disease control, resource utilisation and direct costs.

Despite evidence that adverse outcomes are less frequent when asthma management is optimised, the link between the level of control, disease severity and medical resource utilisation (MRU) is poorly documented. This relationship was investigated in a group of patients suffering from persistent asthma (Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) > or = 2) in France. In 1998 a computerised family practice database was used to identify asthma patients aged 17-50 yrs. Information from the database was complemented by a patient survey to retrospectively assess the level of asthma control and hospital contacts. Costs of MRU over a 12-month study period were related to demographics, medical history, asthma control, and doses of inhaled corticosteroids prescribed during the prestudy period. A review of the computerised medical database identified 1,038 adult patients with persistent asthma, who completed the survey questionnaire. Over a 12-month period, the mean cost of MRU was 549.8 euros for well-controlled patients, 746.3 euros per patient with moderate control, and 1,451.3 euros per patient with poor control. Costs also increased significantly with age, access to free asthma care, comorbid conditions, asthma symptoms in the past year and whether inhaled corticosteroids had been prescribed before the study period. In patients with persistent asthma, large differences were observed in the use of medical resources according to control and severity. Therefore, if patients appropriately use prescribed control therapy, their use of medical resources may be reduced.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Adherence to treatment regimen in depressed patients treated with amitriptyline or fluoxetine.

OBJECTIVE: Non-compliance presents a constant challenge to effective therapy. Many studies only investigate early treatment discontinuation and not other measures like adherence to treatment regimen. We compared adherence in depressed patients using either a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine) or a tricyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline), and examined its clinical relevance through adverse events, drop-out rates, and outcome. Adherence was measured electronically with the MEMS (Medication Event Monitoring System). DESIGN: Nine-week double blind, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Ambulatory psychiatric care. PATIENTS: Random sample of 66 depressed (DSM-III-R criteria) patients. INTERVENTION: Fluoxetine 20 mg or amitriptyline 150 mg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time course of adherence and its relation to severe adverse events, drop-outs and outcome. RESULTS: Non-adherence to the treatment regimen occurred frequently in both treatment groups: 31% of patients had at least one 3-day drug holiday, and 34% of patients had at least one episode of three pills in a 24-h period. Over-consumption occurred more frequently during the early phases of treatment while under-consumption occurred more frequently during the later phases. Patients on amitriptyline (P=0.03) and patients with a higher pill intake (P=0.01) experienced more severe adverse events. Patients on amitriptyline (P=0.009) and patients with a lower adherence to the treatment regimen (P=0.004) discontinued from treatment more frequently. The final Hamilton score was significantly predicted by a longer duration of treatment and by a better adherence, but only in amitriptyline users. CONCLUSIONS: Non-adherence to the treatment regimen has important clinical consequences. Pharmacodynamics and human behavior predict risk for severe adverse events and drop-outs. Moreover, in amitriptyline users but not in fluoxetine users, better adherence predicts a better outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Level of control and hospital contacts in persistent asthma.

The purpose of this study was to estimate relationships between asthma control and hospital contacts (visits to emergency rooms and hospitalizations) in a group of patients suffering from persistent asthma, after adjustment for prior use of inhaled corticosteroids. A computerized family practice database was used to identify patients (aged 6-50 years) with persistent asthma who received asthma therapy from January 1995. The database provided information on patient demographics and drug therapy. Asthma control was estimated by a survey of patients at the end of a 12-month study period. Frequency of hospital contacts during the study period was related to demographics, asthma control, and prescribed doses of inhaled corticosteroids during a prestudy period. Review of computerized medical files of 497 family practice physicians identified 1,966 patients with persistent asthma who met the study criteria. Of these patients, 1,251 completed the survey (63.6%). Asthma control was assessed in 1,130 patients; it was moderate or poor in 42% of the cases. During the 12-month study period, 14.8% of patients reported at least one hospital contact. The level of asthma control was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with hospital contacts. The odds ratio (OR) for hospital contact for good and poor asthma control was 0.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2-0.7) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.2-4.4), respectively. Asthma control was related to hospital contacts independently of use of inhaled corticosteroids before the study period. Overall, control of asthma was not optimal in this population. The occurrence of hospital contacts was closely related with the level of control. This association was independent of the dose of inhaled corticosteroids prescribed before the study, suggesting that in asthma, hospital contacts are primarily related to the level of control experienced by the patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Cost-effectiveness of pravastatin in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: comparison between Belgium and the United States of a projected risk model.

Methodological differences and variations in health care regulations among countries often preclude direct comparisons of cost-effectiveness studies. A projected risk model was applied, designed to determine the economic value in the United States of pravastatin in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), to Belgium using local health care costs. A Markov process was used to model the effectiveness of treatment for 3 years with pravastatin versus placebo in 1000 male CHD patients aged 60 years and clinically similar to those in the pravastatin limitation of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries (PLAC I) and pravastatin, lipids and atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries (PLAC II) studies. The PLAC I and II trials have shown that pravastatin treatment for 3 years at a weighted mean dose of 36.64 mg daily significantly reduced the incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction in patients with CHD. Framingham data were used to project the risk of mortality 10 years post-myocardial infarction. The incremental cost per life year gained (LYG), after discounting costs and benefits by 5% annually, in the setting of Belgian health care regulations, was Belgian francs (BEF) 720794 (US$ 24359) for CHD patients with one additional risk factor; BEF 526464 (US$ 17792) for those with two additional risk factors; and BEF 392765 (US$ 13274) for those with three or more additional risk factors. The cost per LYG in Belgium appeared to be more sensitive to drug acquisition cost than to costs of medical interventions. The cost-effectiveness ratios of pravastatin monotherapy for 3 years in secondary prevention of CHD, obtained with the same projected risk model, are from 86 to 92% higher in Belgium than in the United States, due to differences in medical patterns of practice and in intervention costs.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed1998

Compliance in depressed patients treated with fluoxetine or amitriptyline. Belgian Compliance Study Group.

Two dimensions of compliance (drop-outs and adherence) were investigated in patients treated with antidepressant drugs. Efficacy, compliance and its determinants were investigated in 66 patients suffering from major depressive disorder and treated in a double-blind manner with fluoxetine 20 mg/day or amitriptyline 150 mg/day for 9 weeks. Overall effectiveness [50% decrease in the initial Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D)] was similar in both groups (62.8% for fluoxetine, 58.1% for amitriptyline). The dropout rate due to side effects was 35.5% for amitriptyline and 5.7% for fluoxetine. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the initial HAM-D score was not predictive for dropping out, but this outcome was instead determined by sex (increased risk for males), age (increased risk for being younger) and occurrence of severe side effects. Adherence was estimated using electronic Medication Event Monitoring System and defined as the percentage of days when the correct dose was taken out of the medication container. Of the patients studied 37% had an adherence of less than 70%. There was no relationship between adherence and efficacy and adherence was similar in patients on fluoxetine or amitriptyline. Side effects were not predictive of being adherent or not, but a higher initial HAM-D score predicted a higher adherence to the medication regimen. The demographic variables had no significant effect. The present study suggests that the link between efficacy, side effects and compliance or adherence is more complex than is generally believed and that early termination and non-adherence seem to be determined by different factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effects of antihistamines in adult asthma: a meta-analysis of clinical trials.

A meta-analysis of clinical trials of antihistamines was performed to assess the risk-benefit ratio of this therapeutic class in asthma. Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials assessing lung function changes under repeated use of antihistamine in adult asthma were selected, and the quality of studies was scored. Morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was the primary outcome: an effect size was computed for each study, with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI), and a mean effect size was computed, combining all studies. Effect sizes were also determined for secondary outcomes: evening PEFR, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and daily use of inhaled beta-agonists. Nineteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Mean quality score of studies was 59.4%; asthma was generally uncontrolled at study inclusion. Altogether, 582 antihistamine-treated and 557 placebo-treated asthma patients were evaluable. Antihistamines had little effect on airway calibre (mean increase in morning PEFR: 13 L x min(-1); 95 CI: 8-18 L x min(-1)) and on use of inhaled beta-agonists (mean reduction in daily use: 0.4 doses; 95% CI: 0-0.8 doses). Sedation occurred more often with antihistamines than with placebo (p<0.001); additional side-effects were mentioned, including weight gain, altered taste, headache and dry mouth. Respiratory and systemic effects observed after repeated use of antihistamines do not support the use of these medications in the treatment of asthma; better designed studies could affect this appraisal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Assessing asthma management from interviews of patients and family physicians.

Directed self-care is recommended in asthma. Adequate patient education and follow-up are nevertheless necessary to optimize outcomes. We compared the agreement between detailed information on asthma history and management, collected from the patient and the family physician, to validate the files of physicians and to assess patients' knowledge, attitude, and behavior concerning asthma. A sample of 54 asthma patients were interviewed in detail about use of medications and self-care practice; 36 family physicians (FPs) were interviewed concerning asthma therapy, history, and attitudes of the same patients. Forty-eight percent of the patients expressed negative attitudes toward inhaled corticosteroids, for reasons of safety or lack of efficacy. Less than 20% of the patients made regular use of a peak flow meter. Eighty-three percent of the patients usually obtained prescriptions for asthma therapy from their FP, but on average, only 40% of these prescriptions were provided during visits specific to asthma. FPs were not optimally informed of actual treatments and outcomes and had poor perception of patients' attitudes toward treatment. Nonetheless, in about 30% of the patients, FPs identified risk factors for adverse outcome, such as depression and family conflicts. A majority of interviewed patients had a negative perception of anti-inflammatory therapy, specifically relating to issues of safety and efficacy. Peak flow meters were seldom used and therapy was commonly prescribed outside visits specific to asthma. Despite being centrally involved in the care of asthma patients, FP did not optimally assess therapy and outcomes. The findings suggest suboptimal education and health status in this asthma population.

Administration, Inhalation↗