RESUMO
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an asthma clinic run by general practitioners on patients morbidity, process of care and prescribing for asthma. Seventy asthma patients were studied. Comparisons were done before and 6 months after the intervention. Morbidity was measured in terms of frequency of the asthma attacks, night asthma, days off-work lost, as well as the values of peak flow rates measured by the peak flow meter. Results have shown a statistically significantly decreasing trend in morbidity [P <0.001]. Also, significant reductions were found in the patients requirement to corticosteroid [P <0.01] and the work-days lost [P <0.0001]. Significant improvements in the patients knowledge about asthma and in the inhaler technique were observed after the intervention. Lastly, the use of inhaler bronchodilators and steroids and of prophylactic medication has increased significantly