PP Katz, EH Yelin, S Smith and PD Blanc
Department of Medicine, Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco 94109, USA.

Psychological factors can play a role in asthma symptoms and may play a role in how individuals manage asthma. Because poor self-management of asthma has been linked to poor outcomes, it is important to understand perceived control of asthma--the individual's perceived ability to deal with asthma and its exacerbations effectively. This study used data from an ongoing panel study of adults with asthma (n = 601). The 11- item Perceived Control of Asthma Questionnaire (PCAQ) demonstrated internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.74) and excellent construct validity, correlating strongly with asthma severity, quality of life, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) measures of health status (p < 0.05). After controlling for demographics and asthma severity, each 6-point decrement in PCAQ score was significantly associated with increased risk of hospitalization (OR = 1.4 [95% CI: 1.1 to 1.8]), frequent activity restriction (OR = 1.5 [1.2 to 1.8]), and, among those with labor force participation (n = 551), asthma-related cessation of employment (OR = 1.7 [1.1 to 2.4]). The PCAQ is a short, easy to administer, reliable, and valid measure of perceived control of asthma. It is strongly associated with adverse asthma outcomes even taking into account demographic characteristics and asthma severity, suggesting that patient-centered interventions focusing on perceived control might improve asthma outcomes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Armour, S. Bosnic-Anticevich, M. Brillant, D. Burton, L. Emmerton, I. Krass, B. Saini, L. Smith, and K. Stewart Pharmacy Asthma Care Program (PACP) improves outcomes for patients in the community Thorax, June 1, 2007; 62(6): 496 - 592. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. S. Harris, C. E. Thoresen, K. Humphreys, and J. Faul Does Writing Affect Asthma? A Randomized Trial Psychosom Med, January 1, 2005; 67(1): 130 - 136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Saini, I. Krass, and C. Armour Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Community Pharmacy-Based Asthma Care Model Ann. Pharmacother., November 1, 2004; 38(11): 1954 - 1960. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Schaffer and L. Tian Promoting Adherence: Effects of Theory-Based Asthma Education Clin Nurs Res, February 1, 2004; 13(1): 69 - 89. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L.-P. Boulet, V. Boulet, and J. Milot How Should We Quantify Asthma Control?: A Proposal Chest, December 1, 2002; 122(6): 2217 - 2223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C J Greaves, C Eiser, D Seamark, and D M G Halpin Attack context: an important mediator of the relationship between psychological status and asthma outcomes Thorax, March 1, 2002; 57(3): 217 - 221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. E. Markson, W. M. Vollmer, L. Fitterman, E. O'Connor, S. Narayanan, M. Berger, and A. S. Buist Insight Into Patient Dissatisfaction With Asthma Treatment Arch Intern Med, February 12, 2001; 161(3): 379 - 384. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. M. VOLLMER, L. E. MARKSON, E. O'CONNOR, L. L. SANOCKI, L. FITTERMAN, M. BERGER, and A. SONIA BUIST Association of Asthma Control with Health Care Utilization and Quality of Life Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 1999; 160(5): 1647 - 1652. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. J Wright, M. Rodriguez, and S. Cohen Review of psychosocial stress and asthma: an integrated biopsychosocial approach Thorax, December 1, 1998; 53(12): 1066 - 1074. [Full Text]

				M. D. EISNER, E. H. YELIN, J. HENKE, S. C. SHIBOSKI, and P. D. BLANC Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Adult Asthma . The Impact of Changing Exposure Status on Health Outcomes Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 1998; 158(1): 170 - 175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]