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Young, Lauren E.

Nursing

MS

A non-interventional cross-sectional convenience study assessed asthma knowledge among adults with asthma in Vermont relative to the 2007 National Institute ofHealth, National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Management of Asthma. While much is known about asthma, a quantification of asthma knowledge specifically in adult Vermonters with asthma is currently not known. An augmented version of the validated Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire was used. Convenience sampling was conducted and 102 persons with asthma completed the questionnaire. A majority of the sample was knowledgeable about asthma. Ten percent of participants were knowledge deficient (2 or more statements incorrect) about asthma pathophysiology, envirormental controls, and control and severity.
Greatest knowledge existed in medication administration and rescue skills. "Men scored lower in overall asthma knowledge, pathophysiology, medication administration, envirormental controls, and control and severity knowledge. Persons diagnosed with asthma 1-5 years ago knew the least regarding medications roles. The questionnaire demonstrated low instrument reliability (Cronbach's a =0.61), possibly due to a small sample size. More research in a variety of settings with diverse populations is needed before conclusions can be made regarding the state of asthma knowledge in Vermont adults with asthma.