International Journal of General Medicine (Mar 2021)

Clinical Management of Asthma by Respiratory Specialists versus General Practitioners: Questionnaire Survey Results Over 6 Years

  • Hamaguchi M,
  • Taooka Y,
  • Nakao M,
  • Nakashima K,
  • Hotta T,
  • Tsubata Y,
  • Hamaguchi S,
  • Sutani A,
  • Isobe T

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 1003 – 1011

Abstract

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Megumi Hamaguchi,1 Yasuyuki Taooka,2 Mika Nakao,1 Kazuhisa Nakashima,1 Takamasa Hotta,1 Yukari Tsubata,1 Shunichi Hamaguchi,1 Akihisa Sutani,3 Takeshi Isobe1 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan; 2Respiratory Medicine, Medical Corporation JR Hiroshima Hospital, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan; 3Respiratory Medicine, Sutani Clinic, Izumo, Shimane, JapanCorrespondence: Yukari TsubataDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-1 Enya-Cho, Izumo, Shimane, 693-8501, JapanTel +81-853-23-2581Fax +81-853-20-2581Email [email protected]: In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare population dynamics investigation showed a decrease in the number of deaths related to asthma in recent years. In 2016, the mortality rate was 1.2 deaths per 100,000 population. There were regional differences; Shimane Prefecture had a higher mortality rate (1.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2016) than other prefectures. In this study, to clarify problems in asthma treatment, we evaluated the status of asthma treatment in Shimane Prefecture.Methods: We performed three cross-sectional questionnaire surveys, in October 2006, February 2009, and February 2012. We received responses from 78 clinics and hospitals. Subjects were patients with bronchial asthma over 14 years of age who regularly visited an outpatient clinic. Survey items included smoking status, control status assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), treatment, and medication adherence. Doctors board-certified by the Japanese Respiratory Society were defined as respiratory specialists (RSs) and other doctors were defined as general practitioners (GPs). We compared various factors between the RS and GP groups.Results: Clinical data of 2159 patients were available for analysis. The proportion of patients with ACT score ≥ 20 points increased significantly between 2006 and 2012 in the GP group. The rate of inhaled corticosteroid use increased in the GP group from 63.6% to 76.4%.Conclusion: It was suggested that asthma control and the rate of inhaled corticosteroid use were related. We should continue educating GPs about asthma treatment.Keywords: questionnaire, bronchial asthma, asthma control test, adherence, general practitioners

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