Avery C H, March J, Brook R H
J Community Health. 1980 Spring;5(3):167-80. doi: 10.1007/BF01323989.
Little is known about how individuals who have chronic disease actually manage their symptoms. This study involving a community-based population of 157 adult asthmatics assesses their ability to take care of their disease and to alter their behavior following a change in symptoms. Multiple techniques (interview, direct observation, and diary) were used to determine their behaviors with respect to medications and physician use; there were then compared with criteria defining the requisite level of a behavior to reduce symptoms. Of the population assessed, 66% had no bronchodilator medication at home, 24% used an inhaler ineffectively, and 68% did not see a physician regularly. When faced with increasing symptoms, at least 40% of the asthmatics did not perform three basic and appropriate behaviors in medication use and physician contact. If physicians and other health care providers could decrease the frequency of these inappropriate self-care behaviors, it could result in improved health.
对于患有慢性病的个体实际上如何管理其症状，我们知之甚少。这项针对157名成年哮喘患者的社区人群研究，评估了他们在症状变化后照顾自身疾病以及改变行为的能力。采用了多种技术（访谈、直接观察和日记）来确定他们在药物使用和就医方面的行为；然后将这些行为与定义减轻症状所需行为水平的标准进行比较。在接受评估的人群中，66%的人家里没有支气管扩张剂药物，24%的人使用吸入器的方法无效，68%的人没有定期看医生。当面对症状加重时，至少40%的哮喘患者在药物使用和就医方面没有采取三种基本且恰当的行为。如果医生和其他医疗服务提供者能够减少这些不恰当自我护理行为的发生频率，可能会改善健康状况。
