Perspectives and experiences of consumers and bicultural health educators on the diagnosis and management of asthma

PurposeLack of access to culture-specific asthma care contributes to poor asthma outcomes in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities. A nurse-led asthma education programme incorporating Bicultural Health Educators to improve asthma outcomes was trialled in three of the communities most severely affected during a thunderstorm asthma event in West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. This study aimed to uncover unique asthma management challenges affecting these communities. Patients and MethodsA total of 47 participants with asthma from Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, and Indian communities completed two asthma education sessions, six weeks apart, with an Asthma Nurse Educator supported by a Bicultural Health Educator. At the first session the participants participated in a questionnaire and a narrative interview in which they shared their views on their asthma healthcare journey. Bicultural Health Educators recorded responses to open questions about perspectives and experiences of their journey, which were coded and thematically analysed. ResultsKey factors impacting on asthma management from the consumer and Bicultural Health Educator perspective included limited knowledge of asthma, limited understanding of asthma management, difficulties with inhaler technique and difficulty navigating asthma care in the community. Culturally-driven attitudes towards asthma management, along with low educational literacy levels in some consumers also played a significant role. ConclusionThe study identified factors impacting on asthma management in the Sri Lankan, Indian and Vietnamese communities in West Melbourne. Incorporating these insights into the delivery asthma care and education might improve asthma outcomes in these populations.