Factors Associated with Asthma Control in Patients Attending Lam Plai Mat Hospital, Buri Ram Province

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with asthma control in patients attending Lam Plai Mat Hospital, Buri Ram Province. The study samples were asthma patients aged over 15 years old who attended the hospital during October 2009 to September 2010. Data were collected through interviews using a set of questionnaire and an asthma assessment tool (asthma control test). Data were analyzed using chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. There were 365 asthma patients participated in the study. It was found that 16 patients (4.38%) were classified as keeping asthma under control; 160 patients (43.84%) whose asthma condition was partially under controlled and 189 patients (51.78%) whose asthma condition was not under control. Factors associated with the ability to control the disease were (1) having family history of asthma (adjusted OR 2.2 95%CI 1.2, 4.0), (2) non-availability of bronchodilator inhaler (adjusted OR 0.3 95% CI 0.1, 0.5), (3) expose to incense smoke (adjusted OR 2.0 95% CI 1.1, 3.6), (4) expose to cold weather (adjusted OR 3.1 95% CI 1.8, 5.3), and (5) expose to smoke from cooking (adjusted OR 2.1 95% CI 1.2, 3.8). Results of this study indicated that asthma patients had capability to control asthma at low level. Thus it was recommended that health personnel at primary care units should conduct more frequent home visit to all asthma patients to monitor self-care practice and control exposure to environmental pollutants. For health care facilities, it was recommended to assess pulmonary function periodically in order to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment and to improve the care of asthma patients.