Levels of acceptance of Asthma Control Test questionnaire among Saudi patients attending 5 tertiary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To explore the levels of acceptance of asthma control test (ACT) among Saudi patients.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 5 hospitals in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, namely; Security Forces Hospital, King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, King Khalid University Hospital, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, and Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, from the first of September to the 30th of November 2006. Patients attending the pulmonary clinic were asked to answer the ACT. This was followed by an interview to assess their view on the questions and their level of difficulty.

RESULTS: The total number of patients was 1060. Males constituted 41%. A third of the patients were uneducated. The majority of patients (94%) found the ACT questions easy. The younger patients found the ACT questions easier to answer than the older patients. Ninety-five percent of males found the ACT easy, while only 92% of females found the ACT easy. Educated patients found the ACT questions easy to perform more often than uneducated patients. There are no significant differences for age and gender, and for the question on whether the test helped to understand the patient's condition. There are no significant differences for age and education, and for the question on whether the patient is willing to perform the test in each clinic visit.

CONCLUSION: The majority of Saudi patients found the ACT easy, and they are willing to repeat the test every clinic visit.