Knowledge and use of asthma control measurement tools in the management of asthma: a survey of doctors working in family and internal medicine practice in Nigeria.

Olufemi Olumuyiwa Desalu1, Cajetan C. Onyedum, Adekunle O. Adeoti, Obianuju B. Ozoh4, Joseph O Fadare
1. Department of Medicine , University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
2. Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku Ozalla Enugu
3. Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Ado-Ekiti
4. Department of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-Araba
5. Department of Pharmacology, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Ado-Ekiti

Abstract
Objective:To investigate the knowledge and use of asthma control measurement (ACM) tools in the management of asthma  among doctors working in family and internal medicine practice in Nigeria.

Method:A questionnaire based on the global initiative on asthma (GINA) guideline was self-administered by 194 doctors. It  contains 12 test items on knowledge of ACM tools and its application. The knowledge score was obtained by adding the correct  answers and classified as good if the score ≥ 9, satisfactory if score was 6-8 and poor if < 6.

Results: The overall doctors knowledge score of ACM tools was 4.49±2.14 (maximum of 12). Pulmonologists recorded the  highest knowledge score of 10.75±1.85. The majority (69.6%) had poor knowledge score of ACM tools. Fifty (25.8%) assessed  their patients’ level of asthma control and 34(17.5%) at every visit. Thirty-nine (20.1%) used ACM tools in their consultation, 29  (15.0%) of them used GINA defined control while 10 (5.2 %) used asthma control test (ACT). The use of the tools was associated with pulmonologists, having attended CME within six months and graduated within five years prior to the survey.

Conclusion:The results highlight the poor knowledge and use of ACM tools and the need to address the knowledge gap.

Keywords:asthma control, knowledge, use, control tools, Nigeria