Gaps in knowledge and clinical practice in Asthma care among health workers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Objectives

Asthma is a leading chronic respiratory disease among adults and children.  Care gaps in asthma have been shown to worsen the outcome of patients. This study aimed to identify asthma care gaps in health facilities, basic knowledge, and clinical practice among healthcare providers.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study among doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who participated in an asthma workshop in Port Harcourt using self-administered, questionnaires to assess care gaps.

Results

Sixty-two healthcare workers from 25 healthcare facilities participated in the study, consisting of mainly Doctors  47(75.8%). Most facilities had nebulizers 21(84%) while 8(32%) had at least one supportive investigation for asthma. Half of the participants knew all four cardinal asthma symptoms. Report of management of acute asthma exacerbations among the doctors showed nebulized salbutamol 41(87.2%)  was the most common medication used, while intravenous aminophylline 31(66.0%), oral salbutamol 29(61.7%) and antibiotics 24(51.1%), was also reported to be used. Forty-one(87.2%) discharged patients on a treatment plan. Asthma control was assessed adequately by 17(36.2%), while inhaler technique was routinely taught to patients by 29(61.7%) and personalized action plan was given by 21(44.7%).

Conclusion

The study identified care gaps in monitoring and diagnostic equipment and tests for asthma in health facilities as well as gaps in participants’ asthma knowledge and medication use. Training and retraining of healthcare workers as well as the provision of equipment are recommended for improved asthma patient care.