Abstract
Introduction Asthma, a significant non-communicable disease impacting all age groups, leads to productivity loss, particularly affecting children and causing disruption within families. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of asthmatic patients and caregivers through questionnaires, focusing on available treatment options. Aims and objectives The study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of asthmatic patients and caregivers at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Objectives included evaluating asthma knowledge using a questionnaire and assessing attitudes towards the disease and available treatment options. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study, conducted at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College & Hospital, Chennai, focused on bronchial asthma patients and their caregivers in the Outpatient Department (OPD) from May 2021 to November 2022. The study included 150 participants selected randomly based on sample size calculations. Data, collected through a proforma, included demographic variables. Participants' knowledge and attitudes toward asthma were assessed using the Asthma Knowledge and Asthma Attitude questionnaires. Exclusion criteria comprised patients with a history of tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, recent hemoptysis, or evidence of infective exacerbation. Results and discussion Among 150 participants, 44% were females and 56% were males. Asthma knowledge was present in 62.1% of females and 79.8% of males, while 37.9% of females and 20.2% of males lacked understanding. High prevalence rates of breathlessness (89.4% females, 90.5% males), wheezing (92.4% females, 81% males), and cough (77.3% females, 75% males) were noted. The knowledge questionnaire revealed a mean score of 4 out of 8, indicating a moderate understanding with significant gaps. Many lacked knowledge about affected sites, harbored misconceptions about pet contact, and dust exposure, and were uninformed about triggers, symptoms, and treatment. Lack of awareness regarding weather-related exacerbations, smoking effects, and medication purposes was evident. Reluctance towards long-term inhaler use underscored the necessity for comprehensive asthma education among patients and caregivers. Attitude questionnaire scores varied: 17 scored 16, 37 scored 18, 24 scored 19, 35 scored 21, 20 scored 24, and 17 scored 26, averaging 20.6, reflecting generally positive attitudes. The attitude questionnaire, with six questions, highlighted attitudes toward asthma. However, stigma around asthma affecting normal lives (77.3%), fear of lifelong medication use (84%), and embarrassment over public inhaler use (74%) highlighted areas for attitude improvement to enhance therapy compliance and patient outcomes. Conclusion Our study highlights concerns among asthma patients and caregivers, particularly those with limited education, regarding treatment side effects. Issues include apprehensions about inhaler therapy's addictive potential, insufficient awareness of asthma triggers, improper inhaler techniques, reluctance towards long-term inhaler use, and embarrassment over public use of inhalers contributing to the study's complexities.