Open AccessImproving the quality of hospital care provided for asthma out-patients in a country in turmoil: a report from Syria
Author(s) -
Yousser Mohammad,
Rafea Shaaban,
Hiba Alwan Salman,
Boushra Nazer Shabraq,
Basim A. Dubaybo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of thoracic disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 2077-6624
pISSN - 2072-1439
DOI - 10.21037/jtd.2019.02.76
Subject(s) - medicine , medical prescription , inhaler , pulmonologist , asthma , audit , trainer , family medicine , medical emergency , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , nursing , management , computer science , economics , programming language
In low resources settings, especially during periods of turmoil, asthma care becomes emergency-oriented, and adherence to international asthma management guidelines such as long-term inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) prescription is limited. The role of education for inhaler technique to guarantee treatment efficacy is neglected and follow up is hampered by war-related displacement. In Syria, asthma care is not included in primary care, and frequently, internal medicine general hospital outpatient clinics are the first contact. The main objective of our study was to evaluate the adequacy of prescription of controller medications (ICS/LABA) by residents on initial contact with patients, and the effect of regular onsite personalized supervision and coaching by a trainer pulmonologist on improving their practice. The second objective was to evaluate the efficacy of mobile training for inhaler technique, and asthma mobile follow up.