Evaluation of the Written Information Delivered by the General Practitioner of the Patients Presenting to the Emergency Room for an Aggravation of Asthma

Asthma is a common pathology (prevalence 6.4% in 2018, in France), currently managed by the general practitioner in general practice. It is a chronic disease at risk of exacerbation, which can lead to the use of care. The treatment of asthma is based on a basic treatment, to be taken every day, the purpose of which is to avoid acute exacerbations and lead a normal life. There is also an emergency treatment, to be taken in case of sudden worsening of the respiratory state. The asthmatic patient is the first actor in his care. He must be able to react in case of emergency. A good knowledge of the disease and its treatment as well as training in self-management of crises are thus fundamental and must be part of its medical care. The existence of an exacerbation represents a criterion of non-control of the disease, thus a failure of the long-term care of the patient. The optimization of this care includes individual issues aimed at improving the quality of life and collective by reducing the avoidable use of care and thus the expenses related to this disease. It relies on therapeutic education sessions as well as the provision of written information, clear and detailed by the doctor. This information consists of the writing of a detailed medication prescription as well as the dispensing of a written action plan.

The action plan must describe the actions to be taken by the patient in case of exacerbation of his asthma, to regain control. Regarding the format, it can be coupled to the prescription drug (action plan and prescription on the same prescription) or distinct from the prescription drug (a prescription for drugs and a prescription for the action plan). In some countries, "ready-to-use" action plans have been validated by learned societies, which is not the case today in France. In Canada, a study demonstrated in 2006 that 46% of asthmatic patients followed in hospital had an action plan, while the national average was estimated at about 10% in 2010. There is little data in France on the proportion of patients with asthma action plans.

Unlike the action plan, which is little distributed to the patient, the prescription drug for asthma is always given to the patient at the end of the consultation and specifies the procedures for taking treatments.

As part of this work, the investigators are interested in evaluating the written information given to the adult asthmatic patient by their general practitioner: the action plan but also the prescription medication.