General practitioner reported follow–up visits among asthma patients in North Central Nigeria

Background: Despite the benefits of regular follow–up in the long–term care of asthma, no previous study has reported on it among asthma patients in Nigeria. Objective: This survey was designed to evaluate GP–reported follow–up visits among asthma patients in North Central Nigeria. Methods: It was a cross–sectional survey conducted among GPs in three North Central states of Nigeria. Results: Overall, 48.3% of the GPs reported that their patients usually come for follow-up visits. About 63.6%, 40.0%, and 55.3% of the GPs in Kwara, Kogi, and Niger states, respectively, reported that their patients came for follow–up visits in the month prior to this study. Less than two–third of GPs in both private (55.1%) and public (56.8%) hospitals reportedly attended to patients on follow–up visits. About 46.5%, 37.5%, and 52.0% of the GPs who attended to patients 1 week, 1-2 weeks and 2 weeks prior to the study reported that their patients came for follow–up visits. There was signifi cant difference (P = 0.04) in the reported follow–up visits by GPs who attended to ≥10 asthma patients compared to others. None of the nine GPs who reportedly treated ≥ 10 patients in the preceding month of the study attended to any patient on follow–up visits. Conclusion: The GP–reported rates of follow–up visits in patients that are accessing asthma care from GPs practicing in the North Central part of Nigeria are low. Further studies to identify barriers to follow–up visits and how to correct them are therefore recommended.