Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of newly established asthma clinics (ACs) on asthma management at primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Oman. Methods: This retrospective crosssectional study was conducted between June 2011 and May 2012 in seven PHCs in the Seeb wilayat of Muscat, Oman. All ≥6-year-old asthmatic patients visiting these PHCs during the study period were included. Electronic medical records were reviewed to determine which clinical assessment and management components had been documented. Results: A total of 452 asthmatic patients were included in the study. The mean age was 35 ± 21 years old (range: 6–95 years) and the majority (57%) were female. In total, 288 (64%) cases were managed at ACs and 164 (36%) were managed at general clinics (GCs). Significant differences were noted in the documentation of cases managed at ACs compared to those at GCs, including history-taking information regarding signs and symptoms (91% versus 19%; P <0.001), trigger factors (79% versus 16%; P <0.001) and a history of atopy (81% versus 17%; P <0.001), smoking (61% versus 7%; P <0.001), asthma exacerbations (73% versus 10%; P <0.001) or previous admissions (63% versus 10%; P <0.001). Furthermore, prescription rates of inhaled corticosteroids (72% versus 61%; P = 0.021) and short-acting β-agonists (93% versus 82%; P = 0.001) were significantly higher at ACs compared to GCs. Conclusion: Overall, the findings indicated that ACs have had a positive impact on asthma management at the studied PHCs.
Subject
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/squmj.2018.18.02.003
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 18(2), e137-142
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Al-Mahrezi, A., Baddar, S., Al-Kindi, S., Safaa, Al-Zakwani, I., & Al-Rawas, O. (2025). Asthma Clinics in Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman: Do they make a difference? Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 18(2), e137-142. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2018.18.02.003
MLA 9
Al-Mahrezi, Abdulaziz, et al. "Asthma Clinics in Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman: Do they make a difference?" Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, 2025, pp. e137-142. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2018.18.02.003.
Chicago (author–date)
Al-Mahrezi, Abdulaziz, Sawsan Baddar, Sheikha Al-Kindi, Safaa, Ibrahim Al-Zakwani, and Omar Al-Rawas. 2025. "Asthma Clinics in Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman: Do they make a difference?" Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 18 (2): e137-142. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2018.18.02.003.
Harvard
Al-Mahrezi, A., Baddar, S., Al-Kindi, S., Safaa, Al-Zakwani, I. and Al-Rawas, O. (2025) 'Asthma Clinics in Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman: Do they make a difference?', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 18(2), pp. e137-142. doi:10.18295/squmj.2018.18.02.003.
Vancouver
Al-Mahrezi A, Baddar S, Al-Kindi S, Safaa, Al-Zakwani I, Al-Rawas O. Asthma Clinics in Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman: Do they make a difference? Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;18(2):e137-142. doi:10.18295/squmj.2018.18.02.003
IEEE
A. Al-Mahrezi, S. Baddar, S. Al-Kindi, Safaa, I. Al-Zakwani, and O. Al-Rawas, "Asthma Clinics in Primary Healthcare Centres in Oman: Do they make a difference?," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. e137-142, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.2018.18.02.003.