The relationship between symptom management and health-related quality of life in patients with severe asthma

Main Article Content

Worawan Khemjan
Nathsapass Rawaiklang

Abstract

Background: Severe asthma is a difficult-to-control condition that substantially affects patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Appropriate symptom management is essential for improving symptom control and promoting favorable health outcomes in patients with severe asthma. Objectives: To examine the relationship between symptom management and health-related quality of life in patients with severe asthma. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 93 patients with severe asthma receiving care at a specialized clinic at the Central Chest Institute of Thailand. Data were collected using standardized instruments, including the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) symptom control criteria, an inhaler technique checklist, the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS), the Asthma Self-Management Questionnaire (ASMQ), and the Severe Asthma Questionnaire (SAQ and SAQ-global). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Correlation strength was interpreted according to Cohen’s criteria (1988). Results: Participants demonstrated good asthma control, with a mean ACT score of 22.25 (± 2.68) and a high HRQoL, with a mean SAQ score of 91.33 (± 14.10). SAQ-global scores were substantially higher during asymptomatic conditions than symptomatic conditions. According to Cohen’s criteria, inhaler technique demonstrated a high positive correlation with HRQoL (rₛ = 0.530, p < 0.01), while self-management demonstrated a moderate positive correlation (rₛ = 0.442, p < 0.01). Medication adherence demonstrated a low positive correlation with HRQoL (rₛ = 0.241, p < 0.05). In addition, asthma control assessed by ACT and GINA criteria was significantly associated with overall and symptomatic HRQoL, whereas no significant association was observed during asymptomatic conditions. Conclusions: Symptom management was significantly associated with health-related quality of life in patients with severe asthma. Inhaler technique and self-management demonstrated stronger associations with HRQoL than medication adherence. These findings highlight the importance of promoting effective inhaler technique and self-management skills to improve symptom control and enhance long-term quality of life in patients with severe asthma

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Khemjan W, Rawaiklang N. The relationship between symptom management and health-related quality of life in patients with severe asthma. CCIT.J [internet]. 2026 Jun. 8 [cited 2026 Jun. 14];2(2):1-9. available from: https://he05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/CCIT/article/view/7852
Section
Research Articles

References

Global Initiative for Asthma. Global strategy for asthma management and prevention [Internet]. Fontana (WI): Global Initiative for Asthma; 2024 [cited 2026 May 11]. Available from: https://ginasthma.org/2024-report/

Holguin F, Cardet JC, Chung KF, Diver S, Ferreira DS, Fitzpatrick A, et al. Management of severe asthma: A European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society guideline. Eur Respir J. 2020;55(1):1900588. doi:10.1183/13993003.00588-2019

ชายชาญ โพธิรัตน์. การดูแลรักษาผู้ป่วยโรคหืด (Management of patient with asthma). ใน: ชายชาญ โพธิรัตน์, บรรณาธิการ. ตำราโรคระบบการหายใจ 1. เชียงใหม่: ภาควิชาอายุรศาสตร์ คณะแพทยศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยเชียงใหม่; 2564. p. 145-80.

Kharaba Z, Feghali E, El Husseini F, Sacre H, Abou Selwan C, Saadeh S, et al. Assessment of quality of life in patients with asthma. Front Public Health. 2022; 10:883784. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.883784.

ภัทรวดี สุขสว่างวงศ์, ธนภรณ์ บุญญา, ปาริชาติ นิยมทอง, ธานินทร์ ฉัตราภิบาล. ปัจจัยทำนายที่สัมพันธ์กับการเกิดหืดกำเริบระดับปานกลางและระดับรุนแรงในผู้ป่วยที่ติดตามการรักษาที่คลินิกโรคหืดโรงพยาบาลแพร่. PMJCS Phrae Med J Clin Sci [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 May 18];33(1):29-36. Available from: https://thaidj.org/index.php/jpph/article/view/16261

Dodd M, Janson S, Facione N, Faucett J, Froelicher ES, Humphreys J, et al. Advancing the science of symptom management. J Adv Nurs. 2001;33(5):668-76. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2001.01697. x.

Song WJ, Won HK, Lee SY, Park HK, Cho YS, Chung KF, et al. Patients’ experiences of asthma exacerbation: A qualitative descriptive study. ERJ Open Res. 2021;7(2):00528-2020. doi:10.1183/23120541.00528-2020.

Cohen J. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale (NJ): Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1988.

Rhyou HI, Kim HK, Song WJ, Lee SM, Kim SH, Kwon JW, et al. Effect of biologics on quality of life in severe asthma: PRISM study. World Allergy Organ J. 2024; 17:100957. doi: 10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100957.

Lomper K, Chudiak A, Uchmanowicz I, Rosiczuk J, Jankowska-Polanska B. Effects of depression and anxiety on asthma-related quality of life. Pneumonol Alergol Pol. 2016; 84:212-21. doi:10.5603/PiAP.2016.0026

Makki S, Siddiqua A, Ali Alqahtani B, Alkhuwaylidi H, Alhefzi L, Hussain M, et al. Self-management and asthma control among adult patients. Sci Rep. 2024; 14:16095. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-67136-0.

เกศรินทร์ ยอดมนต์ . ปัจจัยทำนายระดับการควบคุมโรคหืดในผู้ป่วยโรคหืดวัยผู้ใหญ่และผู้สูงอายุ [วิทยานิพนธ์พยาบาลศาสตรมหาบัณฑิตบนอินเทอร์เน็ต]. ปทุมธานี: มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์; 2564 [เข้าถึงเมื่อ 18 พ.ค. 2569]. เข้าถึงได้จาก:https://ethesisarchive.library.tu.ac.th/thesis/2021/TU_2021_6114032086

_11843_21935.pdf