THE ROLE OF THE REHABILITATION NURSE IN EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Asthma, a prevalent chronic respiratory condition, requires effective self-management to control symptoms and enhance quality of life. However, knowledge gaps and low confidence often impede self-management efforts. This study investigates the effectiveness of structured rehabilitation nursing consultations in empowering adults with asthma for self-care. <bold>Methods:</bold> A randomized controlled trial with 102 adults with asthma was conducted. The intervention group received four weekly consultations focusing on patient-centered education, breathing exercises, and inhaled technique review. The control group received standard nursing care for asthma management. Post-intervention, both groups were assessed using the Modified Patient Enablement Instrument (mPEI) to measure self-management empowerment. <bold>Results:</bold> Post-intervention, the intervention group exhibited significantly higher mPEI scores (mean increase: 7.9±3.3 points) compared to the control group (mean increase: 6.2±3.4 points) (p=0.019), indicating notable improvement in self-management empowerment (effect size d=0.5). Notably, 61.9% of the intervention group achieved "good" empowerment (mPEI score 7-12) versus 36.6% in the control group. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study demonstrates that structured rehabilitation nursing consultations significantly enhance self-management empowerment in adults with asthma, potentially leading to improved symptom control and quality of life. Further research is warranted to explore long-term effects and cost-effectiveness across diverse populations and settings.