Table 1 Summary of themes for the framework of awareness for asthma
From: Development of a framework for increasing asthma awareness in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe
Theme | Population Affected/targeted | Possible causes | Proposed solutions | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lack of asthma awareness | Healthcare providers | • Lack of clinical education • Inexperience | • Refresher courses • Clinical mentoring | We do not have guidelines to have on asthma diagnosis and this affect our awareness to asthma diagnosis and treatment (…doctor, Interview 1) |
Patients | • Lack of information, educational and communication (IEC) materials • Lack of health education and health promotion • Misconceptions about asthma | • Strengthening of health promotion • Provision of targeted health messages on asthma |  | |
General population | • Stigma associated with asthma • Cultural beliefs | • Strengthening health promotion activities |  | |
Inability to diagnose asthma | Healthcare providers | • Lack of training • Lack of appropriate equipment • Comorbidity of asthma with other respiratory conditions • Asthma symptoms mimics other respiratory symptoms. | • Targeted training • Refresher courses • Provision of diagnostic tools • Provision of guidelines for the management of asthma | I am from school and there is nothing embarrassing as failing to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis…because of lack of resources for diagnosing (Male doctor, Interview 2). I end up just giving a provisional diagnosis yet I am sure I will not arrive at an appropriate asthma diagnosis because even if I order tests, these will not be performed…we do not have even basic equipment such as a spirometer to confirm our suspicion (Male doctor, Interview 3) What a challenge! To be unable to arrive at a simple diagnosis because simple things like Peak Expiratory Flow Meters are not present (Senior doctor, Interview 4). |
Enhancing awareness of asthma | Health care providers | • Lack of clinical meetings • Lack of IEC material | • Clinical Meetings • In-house training • IEC materials | …importance of mobile applications with asthma clinical data for health care providers as a way of improving awareness for asthma among the health care providers... |
Patients and the general public | • Lack of public health awareness programmes on asthma | • Use of bill boards • Bulk messages that are transmitted through network providers • Using asthma champions • Commemoration of World Asthma Days |  |