Relationships between symptom control, medication management, and health literacy of patients with asthma in Vietnam

Background: Asthma is a significant health issue among Vietnamese adults in both urban and rural areas. The disease needs serious concern to minimize impact and improve the situation. Objective: This study aimed to describe the level of health literacy, symptom control, and medication management and determine the relationships among them in patients with asthma in Da Nang, Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 84 patients with asthma. The questionnaires were used in this study, including demographic form, the Short-Form Health Literacy questionnaire (HL-SF12), Asthma Control Test (ACT), and Medication Adherence Reporting Scale for Asthma (MARS-A). Pearson product-moment correlation was applied to determine the relationship between health literacy, symptom control, and medication management. Results: The score revealed for general-health literacy, symptom control, and medication management were 28.70 ( SD = 9.66), 17.72 ( SD = 4.67), and 3.63 ( SD = 0.75), respectively. Health literacy level had moderate positive relationships with symptom control ( r = 0.41) and medication management ( r = 0.44). Conclusion: The patients had limited health literacy, partially controlled symptom, and poor adherence to the medication. Health literacy level had moderate positive relationships with symptom control  and medication management. These findings are crucial for effective treatment and management of the disease in Vietnam. To improve medication management and symptom control among patients with asthma, nurses should concern patients’ health literacy level. Funding:  This research was funded by the Research and Training Center for Enhancing Quality of Life of Working-Age People and the Department of Student Development and Alumni Affairs at the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kean University, Thailand.