For Physicians
The G.A.P. II Survey highlights the need for more active communication between patients and their healthcare providers when it comes to treatment regularity and compliance.
The G.A.P. II Survey aims to provide new and comprehensive insights on the attitudes of asthma patients and to compare them with attitudes of physicians who treat asthma patients, exposing the difference between asthma knowledge and patient action.
For the 2008 Asthma GAP II survey, "asthma patients" were defined as men and women who reported: Having ever been diagnosed by a health professional with asthma; Still having asthma; Having taken any medication to control their asthma in the past 12 months; and being at least 18 years of age. The survey was conducted by telephone between June 27 and August 18, 2008 with a total of 3,664 asthma patients as defined above.
The physicians’ portion of the 2008 Asthma Gap II study consisted of interviews with 300 primary care physicians (PCPs) including general practitioners, family practitioners, and internal medicine practitioners. In order to qualify for the study, physicians must have been treating at least three asthma patients per week on average. Additionally, they were required to be board-certified or board-eligible.
The survey offers insights to aid all the full alliance of healthcare professionals working with asthma patients, including physicians, nursing staff, treatment institutions, pharmacists and others.
By understanding proper asthma management and appropriate use of medications, patients can maintain control over their asthma symptoms and minimize the risks associated with uncontrolled asthma.