Demographic and clinical characteristics predictive of asthma diary use among women.

Background: Current asthma guidelines encourage the use of an asthma diary for patients whose symptoms are not under control, who are being introduced to new treatments, or who need help in identifying environmental or occupational exposures. Despite the potential benefit of diaries in asthma management, gaps in the understanding of their use exist. Our objective was to identify demographic and clinical characteristics predictive of diary use by women with asthma as women patients predominate in asthma among adults and have higher rates of associated asthma management problems.

Methods: Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the use of a structured asthma diary were examined using data collected from 424 women with asthma over 18 years of age taking part in a randomized controlled study. Data were analyzed using chi-square statistics and logistic regression. Data reported are for women randomized to the intervention arm (N = 424) who were assigned the diary as part of the educational intervention.

Results: Older age (OR = 1.614; p < 0.05) and higher education (OR = 1.835; p < 0.05) were associated with diary use. More severe asthma (OR = 0.479; p < 0.01) and a history of smoking (OR = 0.495; p < 0.05) were associated with nonuse of the diary.

Conclusions: Both demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with asthma diary use. Clinicians and researchers should anticipate potential differences in use of an asthma diary according to demographic and/or clinical characteristics of female patients.