TY - JOUR
T1 - Delving into Uncontrolled or Severe Asthma: Perspectives from Patients and Healthcare Professionals in a Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Volpato, Eleonora
AU - Pennisi, Vincenzo
AU - Pennisi, Alfio
AU - Piraino, Alessio
AU - Banfi, Paolo
AU - D'Antonio, Salvatore
AU - Centanni, Stefano
AU - Cavalieri, Luca
AU - Ramaccia, Mattia
AU - Bugliaro, Filomena
AU - Barbaglia, Simona
AU - Cappuccio, Antonietta
AU - Termini, Roberta
AU - Marini, Maria Giulia
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Background: Despite the effectiveness of inhalation therapy, uncontrolled or severe asthma remains prevalent challenges in respiratory care Narrative Medicine (NM) offers a linguistic approach to comprehending illness experiences, thereby providing a framework for advancing healthcare.
Aim: The primary aim of this study was to gather narratives from individuals grappling with severe or uncontrolled asthma and their Healthcare Professionals (HCPs), in order to explore the intricate interplay among quality of care, quality of life, psychological and
social determinants, and adherence patterns.
Methods: A cross-sectional NM study was conducted in Italy from February to December 2023, encompassing 135 patients with uncontrolled or severe asthma (54.7% male; mean age: 56.7 years) and 47 HCPs (64.9% male; mean age: 54.3 years). A mixed method approach was adopted to scrutinize themes, language nuances, emotional expressions, and narrative classifications.
Results: Patients with uncontrolled or severe asthma reported an average illness duration of 4.46 years, with exacerbations occurring over the past 20.9 months. Pulmonologists (83% of HCPs) played a predominant role in diagnosing and treating the disease in 96.1% of patients. Additionally, participants with severe asthma reported higher healthcare needs. The most reported emotions were fatigue (25.96%) and a sense of suffocation (11.53%). Upon commencing treatment, while experiencing physical improvement, patients predominantly expressed feelings of “submission/dependence” on medication (28%), followed by “fear” (21%) and “serenity/joy” (21%). HCPs, primarily pulmonologists (83%), emphasized the importance of raising awareness among specialists and General Practitioners (GPs), disseminating information, optimizing prescriptions, implementing phenotyping, tailoring therapy, and considering
paediatric needs.
Conclusion: These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of patient perspectives, facilitate personalized interventions, and underscore the factors influencing therapeutic adherence in uncontrolled or severe asthma.
AB - Background: Despite the effectiveness of inhalation therapy, uncontrolled or severe asthma remains prevalent challenges in respiratory care Narrative Medicine (NM) offers a linguistic approach to comprehending illness experiences, thereby providing a framework for advancing healthcare.
Aim: The primary aim of this study was to gather narratives from individuals grappling with severe or uncontrolled asthma and their Healthcare Professionals (HCPs), in order to explore the intricate interplay among quality of care, quality of life, psychological and
social determinants, and adherence patterns.
Methods: A cross-sectional NM study was conducted in Italy from February to December 2023, encompassing 135 patients with uncontrolled or severe asthma (54.7% male; mean age: 56.7 years) and 47 HCPs (64.9% male; mean age: 54.3 years). A mixed method approach was adopted to scrutinize themes, language nuances, emotional expressions, and narrative classifications.
Results: Patients with uncontrolled or severe asthma reported an average illness duration of 4.46 years, with exacerbations occurring over the past 20.9 months. Pulmonologists (83% of HCPs) played a predominant role in diagnosing and treating the disease in 96.1% of patients. Additionally, participants with severe asthma reported higher healthcare needs. The most reported emotions were fatigue (25.96%) and a sense of suffocation (11.53%). Upon commencing treatment, while experiencing physical improvement, patients predominantly expressed feelings of “submission/dependence” on medication (28%), followed by “fear” (21%) and “serenity/joy” (21%). HCPs, primarily pulmonologists (83%), emphasized the importance of raising awareness among specialists and General Practitioners (GPs), disseminating information, optimizing prescriptions, implementing phenotyping, tailoring therapy, and considering
paediatric needs.
Conclusion: These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of patient perspectives, facilitate personalized interventions, and underscore the factors influencing therapeutic adherence in uncontrolled or severe asthma.
KW - uncontrolled asthma
KW - severe asthma
KW - narrative medicine
KW - quality of life
KW - adherence
KW - uncontrolled asthma
KW - severe asthma
KW - narrative medicine
KW - quality of life
KW - adherence
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/299445
UR - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/jaa.s483020
U2 - 10.2147/jaa.s483020
DO - 10.2147/jaa.s483020
M3 - Article
SN - 1178-6965
VL - Volume 17
SP - 1207
EP - 1226
JO - Journal of Asthma and Allergy
JF - Journal of Asthma and Allergy
ER -