Evaluation of Physicians' Knowledge of Asthma Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines in a Health Maintenance Organization

Abstract

Asthma management is a complex process requiring the active, significant, and consistent attention of physicians and patients. Physician knowledge regarding asthma care was evaluated in this study as part of a comprehensive health improvement strategy to improve the quality of asthma care in health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Sixty-eight randomly selected physicians who treat asthma patients were interviewed on basic clinical knowledge and specific applications of knowledge in four domains: assessment/diagnosis, pharmacological therapy, asthma triggers, and patient management/education (72% participation). The standardized interview, based on 1997 NIH/NHLBI Expert Panel Report 2: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, was administered by a pulmonologist. Each domain contributed 25 points to the overall score of 100 points. Physicians were trained in pediatrics (46%), internal medicine (28%), and family practice (22%). Mean overall asthma clinical knowledge score was 46 ± 9. Mean doma...