Table 3 Misconceptions on knowledge and perceptions about asthma in all participants and those with asthma (either diagnosed or treated self-report)
From: Knowledge and perceptions of asthma in Zambia: a cross-sectional survey
All n (%) | Asthma n (%) | No asthma n (%) | P value* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Is shortness of breath a sign of asthma? | 803 (78.8) | 107 (92.2) | 696 (77.1 %) | <0.001 |
Is tightness in the chest a sign of asthma? | 783 (76.8) | 105 (90.5) | 678 (75.1 %) | <0.001 |
Are severe headaches a sign of asthma? | 339 (33.3) | 42 (36.2) | 297 (32.9 %) | 0.466 |
Is a cough at night a sign of asthma? | 522 (51.2) | 66 (56.9) | 456 (50.5) | 0.201 |
Is wheezing after exercise a sign of asthma? | 808 (79.3) | 106 (91.4) | 702 (77.7) | <0.001 |
Asthma cannot be cured. | 452 (44.4) | 79 (68.1) | 373 (41.3) | <0.001 |
An inhaler is a good treatment for Asthma. | 778 (76.4) | 84 (72.4) | 694 (76.9) | 0.296 |
People with asthma cannot exercise or play hard. | 586 (57.6) | 67 (57.8) | 519 (57.5) | 1.000 |
When a person with asthma is doing well they do not need to go to the doctor. | 286 (28.1) | 36 (31.0) | 250 (27.7) | 0.444 |
Asthma is a common reason for many school absences. | 598 (58.7) | 68 (58.6) | 530 (58.7) | 1.000 |
When asthma attacks stop, you don’t have asthma anymore. | 240 (23.6) | 16 (13.8) | 224 (24.9) | 0.007 |
You can’t have asthma as an adult without having it as a child. | 291 (28.6) | 17 (14.7) | 274 (30.3) | <0.001 |
Hospitalizations for asthma are preventable. | 376 (36.9) | 45 (38.8) | 331 (36.7) | 0.085 |
Asthma symptoms can be prevented with the right medications. | 556 (54.7) | 63 (54.3) | 493 (54.7) | 0.141 |
Asthma is a serious health problem in Zambia. | 614 (60.4) | 83 (71.5) | 531 (58.9) | 0.080 |
Asthma care is expensive. | 354 (34.8) | 44 (37.9) | 310 (33.8) | 0.738 |
When a person has an asthma attack they should see a doctor immediately. | 873 (85.8) | 104 (89.7) | 769 (85.4) | 0.021 |
University Teaching Hospital is the best place to get treated for an asthma attack. | 401 (39.5) | 40 (34.5) | 361 (40.1) | 0.005 |
People can become addicted to inhalers for asthma treatment. | 386 (37.0) | 50 (43.1) | 336 (37.1) | 0.355 |
Tablets are better than inhalers for asthma treatment. | 323 (31.8) | 53 (45.7) | 270 (30.0) | 0.003 |
African doctors can cure asthma. | 17 (1.7) | 1 (0.9) | 16 (1.7) | 0.673 |