Many Factors Predict Enrollment in Asthma Program

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Educational level and perception of benefit are among the significant factors that predict participation in a free asthma self-management program, according to Belgian researchers.

In the November issue of Chest, Dr. Valentine Lemaigre of University Clinic Gasthuisberg, Leuven and colleagues note that these programs are helpful and should be integrated into asthma management. However, participation rates are often low.

To investigate what factors were most important in influencing enrollment, the researchers interviewed 107 outpatients with asthma about their intention to join such a program. The subjects also completed questionnaires.

In total, 59 percent said they intended to enroll. Factors such as asthma hospitalizations or severity of disease appeared to have no influence on decision-making. However, patients who had more intense asthma symptoms in the 2 weeks before recruitment seemed more likely to participate, but this trend was fairly weak.

Patients who had no barriers to program attendance, such as lack of time or living too far away, were nearly 13-times more likely to enroll. Also important was the belief in personal benefits of the program, which increased the odds of enrollment by almost 8-fold. Being under social pressure to improve one's asthma care and higher education levels were also influential.

Given these findings, Lemaigre told Reuters Health "we would suggest clinicians and educators motivate asthmatics to participate by emphasizing program benefits instead of disease characteristics. Practical issues, such as accessibility of the program and time needed to participate, should definitely be addressed."

SOURCE: Chest, November 2005.