Abstract
The objective of this paper is to compare asthma control between patients who attend special medical facilities and those who attend general medical facilities. A questionnaire survey was conducted among parents of patients with childhood asthma in November, 2004. Data were analyzed from 1,846 answers (392 for patients in special medical facilities and 1,454 for those in general medical facilities). The percentage of patients who had visited an emergency room or had been hospitalized was lower among those who attended special facilities compared to general facilities. The percentages of patients who regularly attended medical facilities regardless of symptoms, who used a peak flow meter, and who kept a diary were higher in special facilities than general facilities. There was no difference in the frequency of use of controller medication between the two groups, but the understanding of how to use the medicine, knowledge of the effects of the medicine, and compliance were all better in patients who attended special facilities. These patients showed better control of asthma symptoms, with fewer burdens of asthma on daily physical and mental activities, leading to a better QOL in the patients who attended special facilities. Our results suggest that improvement of medical care may be achieved by referring to specific guidelines in cases in which general pediatricians treat asthmatic children.
