Browsing by Author "Altintaş D.U."

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    A multi-center survey of childhood asthma in Turkey - I: The cost and its determinants
    (2009) Beyhun N.E.; Soyer O.U.; Kuyucu S.; Sapan N.; Altintaş D.U.; Yüksel H.; Anlar F.Y.; Orhan F.; Cevit O.; Çokùras H.; Boz A.B.; Yaziciòlu M.; Tanaç R.; Şekerel B.E.
    Successful management of childhood asthma requires a thorough idea of the economic impact of asthma and its determinants, as policy makers and physicians inevitably influence the outcome. The aim of this study was to define the cost of childhood asthma in Turkey and its determinants. In April 2006, a multi-center, national study was performed where data regarding cost and control levels were collected. Asthmatic children (6-18 yr) with at least a 1-yr follow-up seen during a 1-month period with scheduled or unscheduled visits were included. The survey included a questionnaire-guided interview and retrospective evaluation of files. Cost and its determinants during the last year were analyzed. A total of 618 children from 12 asthma centers were surveyed. The total annual cost of childhood asthma was US$1597.4 ± 236.2 and there was a significant variation in costs between study centers (p < 0.05). Frequent physician visits [odds ratio (95% confidence intervals)] [2.3 (1.6-3.4)], hospitalization [1.9 (1.1-3.3)], asthma severity [1.6 (1.1-2.8)], and school absenteeism due to asthma [1.5 (1.1-2.1)] were major predictors of total annual costs (p < 0.05 for each). The comparable cost of asthma among Turkish children with that reported in developed countries suggests that interventions to decrease the economic burden of pediatric asthma should focus on the cost-effectiveness of anti-allergic household measures and on improving the control levels of asthma. © 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard.
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    Perceptions of parents and physicians concerning the childhood asthma control test
    (2012) Uysal Soyer Ö.; Öztürk F.; Keskin Ö.; Asilsoy S.; Altinel N.; Karaman Ö.; Yazicioglu M.; Sapan N.; Zeyrek D.; Kuyucu S.; Özmen S.; Reisli I.; Aydogan M.; Altintaş D.U.; Orhan F.; Yüksel H.; Bingöl Boz A.; Gürkan F.; Tahan F.; Cevit Ö.; Şekerel B.E.
    Background. The Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) has been proposed to be a simple, patient-based test that is able to reflect the multidimensional nature of asthma control. In this analysis, the aim was to evaluate the perceptions of physicians and caregivers concerning C-ACT and its predictive value for future asthma-related events. Method. In a multicenter prospective design, 368 children aged 411 years with asthma who were either well- or not well-controlled were included in the study. The study participants were evaluated during three visits made at 2-month intervals and the Turkish version of C-ACT was completed each month. Parents completed questionnaires concerning their perception of asthma (before and after the study) and the C-ACT (after the study). Physicians completed a survey about their perception of a control-based approach and the C-ACT. Results. The C-ACT scores increased from visit 1 to visit 3, with improvement seen in all domains of the test. At the end of the study period, the parents more strongly agreed that asthma could be controlled completely and that asthma attacks and nocturnal awakenings due to asthma were preventable (p < .05). Most of the parents reported that the C-ACT helped them to determine asthma treatment goals for their children and also that the C-ACT improved communication with their physicians. The physicians indicated that a control-centered approach was more convenient (95) and simpler (94.5) than a severity-centered approach and provided better disease control (93.4). A higher C-ACT score was associated with a decreased risk of asthma attack and emergency department admittance in the 2 months following the administration of C-ACT. Conclusion. Our findings indicated that the C-ACT improved both parental outlook on asthma control and the communication between the physician and parents. There was a good correlation between the C-ACT score and the level of asthma control achieved, as described by the physician. Additionally the C-ACT score was predictive of future asthma-related events. These findings suggest that the C-ACT may have an important role in asthma management in the future. © 2012 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.