Abstract

QUINTERO PEREZ, William et al. Exacerbations of bronchial asthma, relation between level of knowledge and access to medical care. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2011, vol.15, n.4, pp.75-88. ISSN 1561-3194.

An analytical, cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted at 29 and 30 Doctor´s Offices with the purpose of specifying the relation among levels of knowledge concerning bronchial asthma exacerbation together with its onset, access to medical care and duration of the status asthmaticus, during September 2010 to September 2011 at «Hermanos Cruz» Health Area. 34 patients presenting exacerbations of bronchial asthma, and other 84 who did not present exacerbations participated in the study. A questionnaire to explore variables of interest was applied, and chi square test was used to verify the association of variables up to a value of ƒ¿=0.05 of statistical significance. An association between exacerbation and level of knowledge was observed (X2= 15, 04; p= 0, 00011); OR= 5, 8. Triggering factors were: weather changes (91, 5%), inhalation of substances (88, 98%) and contagious respiratory diseases (54, 2%). Less than 6 hours was the time (47, 1%) from the onset of symptoms to the exacerbations; 67,6% attended to medical care 12 hours after (Z= 2,57; p=4,94 E-03). Prevailing this last group of patients with an exacerbation of asthma greater than 24 hours (X2=12, 36; p=0,014). The relationship between level of knowledge to avoid exacerbations of asthma and the onset was confirmed. The majority of patients presented short periods of symptoms and delayed medical care, which was related to the durations of these prolonged exacerbations of bronchial asthma.

Keywords : Bronchial asthma [complications]; Primary Health Care [classification].

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