A study to assess the awareness of bronchial asthma among the patients admitted in medicine ward of the selected hospitals of guwahati, assam.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. It is a disease characterized by recurrent attack of breathlessness and wheezing which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. This condition is due to inflammation of the airway passages in the lungs and affects the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the airways so that they become easily irritated.
Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the awareness of Bronchial Asthma among the patients admitted in medicine ward of the selected hospitals of Guwahati, Assam
Method And Material: Non experimental descriptive design was used in this study to accomplish the objectives. Nonprobability convenience sampling technique was used for obtaining the adequate sample for the study. Study was undertaken on 150 patients of selected hospital of Guwahati, Assam. Respondents were selected on the basis of the inclusion criteria. A semi structured questionnaire was used to assess the level of awareness on Bronchial Asthma. The technique used was self report.
Results: Out of 150 respondents, majority53(35.3%) were in the age group of 31-40 years, 107(71.3%) were male, 38(25.3%) were educated till primary school, 106 (70.6%) were living in nuclear type of family, 81(54%) were having monthly income ≤Rs.10,000 , 80(53.3% ) were living in semi pucca house, 51(34%) were doing business, 110(73.3%) were living in rural area, 126(84%) were not having family history of Bronchial Asthma. Majority of the respondents 93 (62%) had moderately adequate awareness, 31(20.6%) had inadequate awareness, and 26 (17.3%) had adequate awareness regarding Bronchial Asthma. The mean and standard deviation of awareness level was 10.74 and 3.71 respectively. The association was statistically tested by using Chi square at p=0.05 level of significance and the result showed that there were significant association of awareness with educational qualification, income per month, type of house and residence.
Conclusion: Twenty six (17.3%) of the respondents had adequate awareness regarding Bronchial Asthma. The study concluded that there is a lack of awareness among the patients admitted in medicine ward. Nurses need to conduct health camp, educational programme in the community setting as well as in the ward or hospitals to provide education on prevention and lifestyle modification of the people to prevent Asthma.