Assessment of the Implementation of Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2019 Guidelines for Treatment of Mild Asthma Among Pediatric Registrars: A Quasi-Interventional Study

Abstract

Background and Aims

It is essential to have proper treatment and management for asthma in order to minimise symptoms, lessen the burden, and lower the chance of exacerbations. To better control asthma, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and enhance paediatric registrars’ understanding and application of asthma treatment.

Methods

The Sudan Medical Specialisation Board (SMSB) paediatric registrars provided data for this quasi-interventional study between April and September of 2021. Twice, both before to and following the intervention education sessions, the questionnaire was delivered. SPSS version 28 was used to analyse the data after it had been cleaned up in an Excel document.

Results

203 (or 77.8%) of the 261 were women. A substantial rise from 8.1 ± 4.12 SD to 18 ± 5.03 SD in the mean overall knowledge score of registrars between the pre-and post-intervention periods. A significant difference (p=0.001) was observed in the post-intervention phase, with first-year registrars (R1) demonstrating higher scores than their senior colleagues. The registrars’ total knowledge scores did not differ significantly from one another during the pre-intervention period. The Global Initiative of Asthma (GINA) guidelines of management were implemented to a certain extent, according to the study. Of the registrars, 148 (56.7%) and 203 (77.8%) evaluated step one management in children ages 5 and under; 66 (25.3%) and 213 (81.6%) evaluated step one management in children ages 6 to 11; and 66 (25.3%) and 213 (81.6%) evaluated step one management in children ages 6 to 11 in pre- and post-intervention, respectively.

Conclusion

Given that the intervention in this study greatly increased registrars’ knowledge, doctors should obtain training on the GINA 2019 recommendations through conferences, workshops, and academic programmes. To find out why R1 outperforms their older counterparts, more investigation has to be done.

Keywords:

• asthma
• GINA
• management of asthma
• Sudan

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Ethical Considerations

Written ethical clearance and approval for conducting this research were obtained from the institutional review board of the Sudan Medical Specialization Board and Educational Development Center (EDC). Written permission was obtained from the administrative authority of the Sudan Medical Specialization Board and the Council of Pediatrics and Child Health. Confidentiality is maintained by serial numbers and codes. Informed consent was obtained from all pediatric registrars who participated in this study.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded independently by the authors.