Asthma is considered a worldwide problem that impacts directly patients' lives as well their families' lives, besides it implies high costs for public health. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop proper coordinated actions to improve identification and management of this disease. Correct identification of true asthmatics is essential to avoid both underdiagnosis and therapeutic excess and proper management of the disease encompasses early diagnosis and treatment. Studies indicate that patient knowledge about his / her illness can directly influence diagnosis. Asthmatics with poor perception of their disease have a greater risk of underestimating it and receiving insufficient treatment. Although patient's perception is an aspect of interest to clinicians and researchers, there is no consensus yet about a gold standard to measure it objectively. Thus, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of asthma symptoms, knowledge about asthma and the relationship between these two variables, in families enrolled and registered in the area of coverage of the Family Health Unit Prof. Dr. Gilson de Cássia Marques de Carvalho (USF VI), of the Municipality of Ribeirão Preto.This is a cross-sectional study, in which 100 individuals aged 18 years or over, enrolled in USF VI, were interviewed. Data collection was performed through home visits and such houses were chosen through a random process regarding the divisions of the micro areas. Data collection was performed through the following instruments: Participants' characterization questionnaire, Screening questionnaire, Questionnaire QTA-B ECRHS for diagnosis of asthma in adults, Economic Classification Criteria Brazil 2015 and Questionnaire on knowledge in asthma. Participants socio-demographic and economic profile was: greater proportion of females (82%), age range ≥ 60 years, marital / married civil status, brown color / race, predominant origin from other localities (outside Ribeirão Preto), occupation "housekeeper", incomplete fundamental schooling level and socioeconomic stratum C. Symptoms suggesting asthma prevalence founded was 24%; higher than that observed in literature, and prevalence of asthma knowledge was 64% in total sample and 58.4% among participants with symptoms suggesting asthma. Through simple linear regression, a small correlation between the following variables was verified: symptoms suggestive of asthma and knowledge on asthma, symptoms suggestive of asthma and socioeconomic stratum, and knowledge on asthma and socioeconomic stratum. In addition to that correlation, a small and weak one between knowledge on asthma and schooling and symptoms suggestive of asthma and schooling was also verified. We suggest new studies on the subject considering new locations, types of treatments and means of collection. This study contributes to new advances in knowledge of asthma and factors that may interfere in its diagnosis and treatment.
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