Role of the nurse in the therapeutic education of asthmatics

Abstract

<bold>Background:</bold> Asthma is a major public health problem. Its control depends on several factors, mainly therapeutic compliance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of therapeutic education, provided by the nurse, on asthma control. <bold>Methods:</bold> Prospective and descriptive study of asthmatic patients followed in the outpatient consultations of the pulmonology department of the Mongi Slim La Marsa University Hospital, from February 1 to April 15, 2024. A first assessment of treatment adherence (Morisky questionnaire) and asthma control (Asthma Control Test (ACT)) was made during the first contact, followed by a therapeutic education session made by two nurses, and this in outpatient consultations. Two months later, a second assessment was carried out by telephone contact. <bold>Results:</bold> Forty patients were enrolled (mean age=53 years, gender-ratio M/F=0.34). Atopy symptoms were found in 75% of patients, including rhinitis in 72% of cases. At the first evaluation, 77% of patients had at least one error when handling their inhalation device, 57% had a normal Peak Expiratory Flow, 37% had a low adherence to treatment and 42% had an uncontrolled asthma. After eight weeks of the therapeutic education session, the second evaluation showed a statistically significant improvement in treatment compliance (p=0.027; 95% CI [0.072, 0.378]) and asthma disease control (p=0.003; 95% CI [0.218, 0.532]) with a clear decrease in ACT score (p<0.0001; 95% CI [-3.151, -0.949]). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Therapeutic education is one of the pillars of the care of patients suffering from chronic diseases and particularly asthma. Through this work, the nurse has demonstrated his crucial role in this care.