A QUALITATIVE STUDY EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF STIGMA IN THE LIVES OF ADULT ASTHMA PATIENTS IN SELANGOR MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Sohail Ahmad linical Bio-Pharmaceutics Research Group (CBRG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Nahlah Elkudssiah Ismail Clinical Bio-Pharmaceutics Research Group (CBRG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Stigma, Adult asthma

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to address and explore the issue of stigmatization and its dynamics in asthma patients from hospital and community pharmacy settings.

Methods: The qualitative study approach was used to explore the issues of stigma thoroughly and deeply in asthma patients. In this study, eighteen adult asthma patients were approached for interview from two different healthcare service settings i.e. academic hospital and community pharmacy from Selangor, Malaysia. Patients' responses were recorded manually as well as electronically. The tapes were verified for accuracy of transcription. Data obtained was coded independently for the relevant themes.

Results: The majority of the interviewees were Malays i.e. 10, 55.6% and remaining 5 (27.7%) and 3 (16.7%) were Indians and Chinese respectively. The mean±SD age of the patients was 49.3 (±11.02) and among these majority were females (n=12, 66.7%). The main findings of study defined three main themes that included stigma of asthma in terms of extent of disclosure about diagnosis status; discrimination felt in the society; patients' feelings affected by stigma and different ways adapted to tackle stigma of asthma.

Conclusion: The patients' experiences of stigmatization were common in both study settings i.e. community pharmacy and hospitals. The patients' adaptation to asthma needs to be given an in-depth consideration to deal the psychosocial concerns of stigma. The support from the healthcare professionals, family members, friends and co-workers is the right strategy and way forward to improve psychosocial wellbeing of the asthma patients.

 

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Author Biographies

Sohail Ahmad, linical Bio-Pharmaceutics Research Group (CBRG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

MSc Candidate (Clinical Pharmacy)

Faculty of Pharmacy

Nahlah Elkudssiah Ismail, Clinical Bio-Pharmaceutics Research Group (CBRG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

PhD (Clinical Pharmaceutics) 

Faculty of Pharmacy

References

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Published

01-07-2015

How to Cite

Ahmad, S., and N. E. Ismail. “A QUALITATIVE STUDY EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF STIGMA IN THE LIVES OF ADULT ASTHMA PATIENTS IN SELANGOR MALAYSIA”. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, vol. 7, no. 7, July 2015, pp. 373-5, https://journals.innovareacademics.in/index.php/ijpps/article/view/6172.

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Original Article(s)