THE PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA SYMPTOMS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN AL-BAHA UNIVERSITY DECEMBER 2014

Dr. Sami Mahmoud Assil*, Saif Abadi Alzahrani, Hussam Abdullah Alghamdi

ABSTRACT

Background: Bronchial asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease affecting adolescents nationality and worldwide. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma symptoms and associated factors among medical students. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The subjects were all the students in the faculty of Medicine. Prestructured self – administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Results: One hundred twelve out of one hundred eighty medical students were participated in the study with a response rate of 62.2%. The prevalence of recurrent asthma symptoms was as follow: shortness of breath (SOB) and cough in 35 (31.3%), sleep interruption by SOB (shortness of breath)or cough at night in 20 (17.9%),wheezing in 14(12.5%). Aggravating factors were: dust in 13(11.6%), exercise induced in 11 (9.8%) perfumes in 5(4.5%), smoking in 4(3.6%), pets in 4(3.6%). Use of inhalers in 3 (2.7%); and present asthma in 2 (1.8%). Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma symptoms was high corresponding to almost one third of the medical students. The low rate of current asthma diagnosis and inhalers use suggests under-diagnosis and under-management of asthma. Accordingly, proper asthma awareness, diagnosis and management are highly recommended among medical students and health workers.

Keywords: Accordingly, proper asthma awareness, diagnosis and management are highly recommended among medical students and health workers.