IMPACT OF SHORT COUNSELLING SESSIONS ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF ASTHMA AND COPD PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED CONTROLLED STUDY
Dr. Meenakshi Bhattacharya, Pankhil Gandhi*, Eshita Sharma, Shital Thombare and Bhagyashri Chavan
ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives: The burden of Asthma and COPD in India is huge. Patient education in this demographic has proven to be effective in improving the quality of life and in reducing the number of exacerbations requiring hospitalisation. This study aims at assessing the effectiveness of short counselling sessions, designed keeping in mind the high number patients in Indian Healthcare Settings, on the quality of life of such patients. Methods: A total of 102 subjects were included in this study and randomly allocated to either the Intervention Group (n=51), to whom counselling was given, or to the Usual Care Group (n=51), to whom counselling was not given. These subjects were followed for 1 month and outcomes were measured in terms of changes in HRQoL using the SGRQ, changes in medication adherence using the MAQ, changes in technique to use inhaler, and number of exacerbations requiring hospitalisation. Results: Clinically and statistically significant improvement of HRQoL was seen in Intervention Group over Usual Care Group. There was a difference of 11.44 points (P=0.002) on the SGRQ between these two groups. At the end of 1 month, the proportion of lowly adherent subjects was 2% in the Intervention Group, while that of the Usual Care Group was 30% (P<0.001). Interpretation and Conclusions: Short counselling sessions proved effective in improving quality of life. Due to their feasibility in Indian healthcare settings, if adopted, such short counselling sessions can be an instrumental part of intensive management strategies for Asthma and COPD patients.
Keywords: Asthma, COPD, Counselling, Patient Education, Quality of Life, Short Counselling Session.
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]
Impact Factor : 8.181 
