Insights, attitudes, and perceptions about asthma and its treatment: findings from a multinational survey of patients from Latin America

Abstract

BackgroundIn 2011 the Latin America Asthma Insight and Management (LA AIM) survey explored the realities of living with asthma. We investigated perception, knowledge, and attitudes related to asthma among Latin American asthma patients.MethodsAsthma patients aged ≥12 years from four Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela) and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico responded to questions during face-to-face interviews. A sample size of 2,169 patients (approximately 400 patients/location) provided an accurate representation of asthma patients’ opinions. Questions probed respondents’ views on topics such as levels of asthma control, frequency and duration of exacerbations, and current and recent use of asthma medications.ResultsA total of 2,169 adults or parents of children with asthma participated in the LA AIM survey. At least 20% of respondents experienced symptoms every day or night or most days or nights. Although 60% reported their disease as well or completely controlled, only 8% met guideline criteria for well-controlled asthma. 47% of respondents reported episodes when their asthma symptoms were more frequent or severe than normal, and 44% reported seeking acute care for asthma in the past year. Asthma patients in Latin America overestimated their degree of asthma control.ConclusionsThe LA AIM survey demonstrated the discrepancy between patient perception of asthma control and guideline-mandated criteria. Additional education is required to teach patients that, by more closely following asthma management strategies outlined by current guidelines more patients can achieve adequate asthma control.

Validation and reliability of the scale Self-efficacy and their child's level of asthma control

“…An investigation developed in China, with the application of the questionnaire Knowledge, Attitude and Practice with 2,960 parents/guardians, concluded that low scores in questions related to knowledge, attitudes, and practices reflect on childhood asthma control parameters (24) . Another study from Latin America with 2,169 patients aged 12 years old or older with asthma revealed that 60% of the interviewed people declared that their disease was controlled or well controlled, but only 8% fulfilled the Global Initiative for Asthma criteria for well-controlled asthma (25) . Non-controlled asthma results in visits to emergency units and hospital admissions (26) .…”

Physician Perspectives on the Burden and Management of Asthma in Six Countries: The Global Asthma Physician Survey (GAPS)

“…Previous surveys of patients with asthma (notably AIR [6,7,16], AIM [8,17,18,32] and REALISE [9,10]) have emphasised patients' lack of both understanding of treatment and belief in its effectiveness when used in accordance with guidelines. Patients also communicated low expectations of achievable control and a high tolerance of symptoms, as demonstrated by the discrepancy between patients' assessments of their asthma control and the extent of their control according to guideline criteria [6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…Patients also communicated low expectations of achievable control and a high tolerance of symptoms, as demonstrated by the discrepancy between patients' assessments of their asthma control and the extent of their control according to guideline criteria [6][7][8][9][10]. This is despite the demonstration that guidelinedefined control is achievable in most patients [33].…”

“…Despite significant research effort into the development of effective therapies and evidence-based treatment guidelines [3][4][5], individuals with asthma throughout the world do not achieve asthma control [6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…The Asthma Insights and Reality (AIR) studies of patients from regions including North America [16], Europe [6], and the Asia-Pacific region [7] in the late 1990s and early 2000s demonstrated that levels of asthma control were substantially below the goals set out in the GINA guidelines [11] and that patients tended to underestimate the severity of their asthma symptoms [6,7]. More recently, the Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) surveys of patients in the USA [17], Latin America [8], Canada, and Europe [18], and the REcognise Asthma and LInk to Symptoms and Experience (REALISE) surveys of European [9] and Asian [10] patients found that the issues identified in the AIR studies are still present.…”