BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of effective treatments for asthma, many patients still suffer from uncontrolled asthma. This study evaluates whether a single educational session could improve asthma control assessed by Asthma Control Test (ACT) score as well as knowledge of the inhaler device, knowledge of medication and inhalation technique. METHODS: This prospective single blinded randomized controlled trial of 160 adults with asthma, examined the effectiveness of a single standardized, educational intervention, performed by a respiratory nurse specialist. The education provided to the intervention group consisted of basic information about asthma treatment and instructions on inhalation technique for about 10 min. This additional education was not offered to the control group. In both groups ACT scores, knowledge of medication, knowledge of inhaler device and inhalation technique were assessed at baseline and after three months. Asthma was considered well-controlled when the ACT score exceeded 19. RESULTS: At baseline there were no significant differences in patient demographics, degree of asthma control, knowledge of medication or device and inhalation technique between the intervention group and the control group. In the intervention group the educational session resulted in a significantly higher proportion of well-controlled asthma patients with an ACT > 19 (43% versus 77%) (p < 0.001) after three months. In the control group this proportion remained similar (57% versus 67%) (p > 0.1). We also observed improvements in knowledge of medication (p < 0.001), knowledge of device (p < 0.001) and inhalation technique (p = 0.004) in the intervention group and not in the control group. CONCLUSION: A single 10 min, educational session provided by a respiratory nurse specialist can substantially improve asthma control determined by the ACT score after three months.

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