The Impact of Biofeedback on Self-efficacy in Adults with Asthma

Objective: To examine self-efficacy among adults with asthma, following a nurse led educational intervention using biofeedback of treatment use.

Method: The research design employed was a quantitative, non-experimental, cross sectional, descriptive survey. An adapted version of a previously validated closed-ended questionnaire known as the Asthma Self-Efficacy Questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. A total of 88 participants, completed the asthma self-efficacy questionnaire once. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. data analysis was undertaken.

Results: Both study groups had highest mean attempted (82.4; SD: 21) and actual adherence (68; SD: 26) in month 1 and lowest in month 8 mean (attempted adherence: 68.9; SD: 33, mean actual adherence 57.8; SD: 32). The control group reported feeling the most confident in communicating with their healthcare provider and the intervention group felt most confident in knowing about the use of their inhalers. Despite the control group reporting the highest mean level of overall self-efficacy compared to the intervention group, they showed a statistically significant decline in mean actual adherence with a mean difference of 19.60 (p=0.003) between month 1 and month 8.

Conclusion: In this study, a high level of perceived self-efficacy did not reflect actual behaviour when compared to objective measures of self-management such as adherence. The findings demonstrate that biofeedback when incorporated into asthma self-management strategies, provides a personalised and objective overview of asthma management, resulting in a more accurate assessment of self-efficacy that appears to be more representative of actual behaviour. This information can be used to deliver personalised asthma and self-management education, ensuring effective asthma management.