Judgment skills. These were evaluated by the scenario-based tool
developed in a previous study.13 It included nineteen scenarios with
four response option each, describing self-management situations
regarding exercise, doctor-patient communication, information seeking,
triggers control, symptoms recognition, and medicine use. Every
response option was transformed into a score ranging from 1-4 (most
inadequate to most adequate). The ranking of the response options and
the validity of the scenarios was determined in a prior study by a Delphi
panel (i.e. panel of experts gathered to achieve consensus about a particular
topic) composed of twelve physicians in the field of lung diseases.
13
Past experience. Following each scenario a yes/no question was
asked about prior experience on a similar situation as the one
described in the scenario. The purpose of this was to verify whether the
described scenarios matched the most common situations for asthma
patients and whether past experience has an association with the
response given to the scenario.