Improving communication among Healthcare Professionals for Asthma Management: Assessing satisfaction with a Local Language Lexicon

In many countries, addressing asthma management poses a challenge due to variations in the language used to communicate about asthma and allergies. Aim: This study aims to evaluate healthcare professionals' (HCPs) satisfaction with a lexicon developed by a group of healthcare professionals in Tunisia. Method: An advisory team comprised of 14 HCPs consensually developed a lexicon comprising 96 words related to asthma and allergies. Subsequently, an online survey was conducted to assess the satisfaction of a larger group of healthcare professionals with the downloadable lexicon. Results: Sixty HCPs, aged 46±12 years, responded to the questionnaire. Fifty-eight participants reported being concerned about the topic. Half of the responders found the lexicon useful for (1) improving communication between HCPs and patients, (2) clarifying confusion regarding certain terms, (3) educating patients, and (4) enhancing patients' ability to express their condition. One out of six responders believed that the usefulness of the lexicon was limited to the 1st purpose. Furthermore, three out of four responders found the lexicon easy or very easy to use, and 60% expressed satisfaction with the number of words (96) included in the lexicon. However, 23% stated a need for additional words, and 18% suggested a reduction in the number of words. The majority of responders (75%) indicated that they would very likely or likely recommend the use of the lexicon, and all responders, except for one, agreed that this initiative should be encouraged for other diseases. Conclusion: The development of a local language lexicon for asthma and allergies appears to be a successful initiative that meets the satisfaction of healthcare professionals. Its main advantages lie in improving communication with patients, educating patients, and facilitating their expression about their condition. The inclusion of approximately 100 words has been deemed suitable for this lexicon.