English abstract
Objectives:This survey aims to assess the current levels of asthma
control as reported by patients attending chest specialist clinic by
using the Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire.
Methods: Current levels of asthma control were assessed using
the ACT questionnaire, and a brief instrument developed to assess
asthma control in a clinical setting. 141 (100 females) patients
aged 13 years and above were recruited from the chest clinic of
Royal hospital, a tertiary hospital in the Sultanate of Oman. The
ACT questionnaire was administered only from the second visit.
Results: The result showed that 61% of patients scored between "20
and 25" (well controlled), 17.7% of the patients scored between "15
and 19" (not well controlled), and the rest 21.3% scored between
"5 and 14" (poorly controlled). More than 50% of the patients
reported that their asthma had an impact in work, school or home
Nocturnal symptoms were reported by 66% and the use of rescue
medications by 70%. Patient perception of asthma control did not
match their symptom severity as more than 65% considered their
asthma controlled despite the fact that their symptoms limited
their daily activities and disturbed their sleep.
Conclusion: The current level of asthma control among the
study patients falls far short of the goals for long-term asthma
management and patients' perception of asthma control is different
from their actual asthma control.
