Impact of educational pamphlet in achalasia care: education as therapy among Pakistani patients.

Abstract

Background: Achalasia, a rare disease, requires symptomatic self-management that can be achieved by educating patients. Pakistan continues to struggle with low health literacy, resulting in a meagre understanding of disease management, for which educational materials have shown promising improvements in knowledge and symptom resolution. This study aims to investigate the impact of educational intervention on Pakistani achalasia patients, for their disease and associated symptoms management.

Methodology: A prospective observational study involving 84 Pakistani achalasia patients was conducted at Center for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. Participants received educational pamphlet covering disease information, diagnostic tests, treatment options, and dietary recommendations. Baseline data, including demographic details and health measures, were collected, followed by an educational session. One month later, follow-up assessments evaluated changes in symptoms, HRQoL, and feasibility of pamphlet. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0.

Results: The educational pamphlets significantly improved health outcomes post-follow-up. Subgroup analysis suggested that intervention was broadly effective across demographic groups, while regression analysis confirmed that pamphlet intervention was strong predictor of symptom improvement (p < 0.001) and patient satisfaction. Correlation analyses revealed that higher education levels were associated with greater improvements in both Eckardt and ASQ scores, while employment status showed weak associations with health outcomes.

Conclusion: The educational pamphlet had a significant impact on improving symptom management and patient satisfaction with achalasia, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing disease understanding and self-management. Future research should focus on the long-term effects and explore additional strategies to enhance disease self-management in diverse populations.