Abstract

Background: Most chronic diseases are variable and an individual must exercise a significant degree of judgment regarding management. Self management therefore requires that the person understands the illness and actively participate in the treatment process. According to self regulation (SR) theory, individuals are required to set personally important goals that guide their behaviors through goalguidance process. Since, very few or almost no available data to assess self-regulation interventions focused on improving asthma knowledge and control, the current study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of asthma-self-regulation intervention among targeted patients.
Methods/Design: A pre/post-test study design was used to compare a six-session asthma-self regulation intervention on participants’ outcome. Intervention program was based on the principles of self-regulation for disease management, and all program activities and materials are designed to be responsive to the specific needs of participants. Thirty asthmatic patients were recruited for the study. Researchers assessed the effect of the intervention on patients’ knowledge gains and control of asthma symptoms. Data were collected at baseline, immediately and two months after the program.
Results: Participants did not show satisfactory knowledge at baseline. Total participants knowledge have significantly improved post program. Different asthma symptoms were poorly controlled at baseline. Study participants however have shown satisfactory significant symptoms control at both immediate as well as 2-months follow up. Patients have shown improvements in asthma control with the enhancement of their knowledge of the disease and acquisition of skills necessary for self-regulation.
Conclusion: On the basis of the study results, self-regulation intervention has been demonstrated a beneficial addition to asthmatic patients’ knowledge and disease control. The results of this study provide important information about the feasibility and value of this program in improving asthma outcomes.