A Shift in Asthma Treatment According to New Guidelines: An Evaluation of Asthma Patients’ Attitudes towards Treatment Change

Abstract

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) has presented a shift in pharmacological asthma treatment. The objective of this study was to explore factors influencing a successful switch to a new asthma treatment approach with a focus on asthma patients’ attitudes toward treatment change and supportive initiatives. This study was performed as a case study involving a quantitative questionnaire and a qualitative semi-structured interview. A total of 284 responses were collected from the questionnaire, and 141 responses were included. The results showed that asthma patients thought that effectiveness of the new treatment approach, doctor recommendation, and knowledge of the new treatment approach were the most important factors influencing treatment change considerations. Nine interviews were conducted where the main themes were barriers to a shift in asthma treatment, such as effects and side effects of the new treatment, the role of the general practitioner (GP) and conflicts in agreeing on a treatment plan; as well as facilitators to a shift in asthma treatment, such as trust in the GP and easier inhaler use. We found several supportive initiatives, such as consultation with the GP, handing out information leaflets and a consultation at the pharmacy. In conclusion, this study uniquely identified factors that may influence successful treatment shifts in asthma patients that may be instrumental in understanding similar situations in other pharmacological settings.

Co-Developing Patient-Centered Information: A Focus Group Study of Asthma Patients’ Preferences and Attitudes towards New Medical Treatment Guidelines

“…This study was performed as a focus group study, which firstly examined a group of Danish asthma patients’ preferences, needs and attitudes towards printed patient information in relation to decision-making when changing treatment, and then used this information for the co-creation of a patient information leaflet. The present study is an elaboration of our previous study, also investigating factors influencing a successful switch to a new asthma treatment approach [ 23 ].…”

“… In focus group two: suggestions for changes to the first prototype of the leaflet and a ranking of the changes based on importance. A group discussion of the use of a patient-centered information leaflet in two different cases; at the local community pharmacy and at the general practitioner’s office, identified in our previous study [ 23 ]. …”

“…We have previously investigated asthma patients’ attitudes towards changing medical asthma treatment according to new treatment guidelines to identify factors that may be crucial for a successful, i.e., adherent, switch to the new MART approach [ 23 ]. The study showed that an increased focus on improving patient involvement during consultations with their general practitioner (GP) was a key initiative that may influence successful treatment change in asthma patients.…”

“…The study showed that an increased focus on improving patient involvement during consultations with their general practitioner (GP) was a key initiative that may influence successful treatment change in asthma patients. It is also suggested that a written patient-centered information leaflet could be used to improve health care professional and patient dialogue both at general practice level and at local community pharmacies [ 23 ].…”

“…Studies investigating patient involvement in, e.g., risk information in surgical care have previously focused on the health care professionals’ opinions about the information or on researchers using validated scoring tools to evaluate patient information in relation to maternity care [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elaborate on our previous study [ 23 ] by exploring asthma patients’ preferences regarding information when co-developing patient-centered information, and how they evaluate the material as a supportive initiative when they are deciding whether to switch to the new MART approach. The study was performed with a specific focus on: Asthma patients’ preferences for the design and content of written patient-centered information.…”