The Use of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) independently by the patient
Asthma often affects a person either because of heredity or other causes such as allergies, pollution, stress, and others. At present there are 300 million of the world's population suffering from asthma, so asthma is a world health problem, estimated at 250,000 deaths each year due to asthma.
Based on the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention of the GINA-Global Initiative for Astha (2009), a person with asthma is said to be controlled if they have 6 criteria: (1) Not or rarely experience asthma symptoms; (2) Never wake up at night because of Asthma; (3) Never or rarely use opaque drugs; (4) Able to perform activities and exercises normally; (5) The results of lung function tests are normal or near normal; (6) Never or rarely experience an asthma attack.
Asthma control can be done in an easy, effective and efficient way. The so-called Asthma Control Test (ACT) is a mediation that can be done by a person with asthma to find out the level or score of a person with asthma. Asthma Control Test (ACT) with a score or score of 25 quantifies the level of achievement of each control criterion, meaning that the person has achieved Total Control.
ACT (Asthma Control Test): First: In the past 4 weeks, how often has asthma bothered you in doing daily work in the office, at school or at home? (1) always; (2) often; (3) sometimes; (4) rarely; (5) never.
Second: In the past 4 weeks, how often have you experienced shortness of breath? (1) more than 1 time a day, (2) 1 time a day, (3) 3-6 times a week; (4) 1-2 times a week; (5) never.
third: In the past 4 weeks, how often have symptoms of asthma (wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain or feeling depressed in the chest) caused you to wake up at night or earlier than usual? (1) 4 times or more a week, (2) 2-3 times a week, (3) 1 time a week, (4) 1-2 times a month, (5) never.
Fourth: In the past 4 weeks, how often have you used emergency spray/nebulizer (tablets/syrup) or oral medications to relieve breathing? (1) 3 or more times a day, (2) 1-2 times a day, (3) 2-3 times a week, (4) 1 time a week or less; (5) never.
Fifth: What is your assessment of your Asthma control level in the past 4 weeks? (1) not controlled at all, (2) uncontrolled, (3) controlled enough, (4) well controlled, (5) fully controlled.
If the score is <20: Your asthma is not controlled
When the score is 20-24: your Asthma control level is good
When score 25: Your asthma is controlled
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