PREVALENCE OF THERAPEUTIC INERTIA AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS ON BRONCHIAL ASTHMA MANAGEMENT IN A REFERRAL TEACHING HOSPITAL IN SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2023: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background: Therapeutic inertia may be one of the factors responsible for inadequate asthma control. However, the magnitude of therapeutic inertia in asthmatic patients has not yet been determined. In Ethiopia, a result showed that more than half of people with asthma had uncontrolled asthma. Objectives: to assess the prevalence of therapeutic inertia and its determinant factors among patients on bronchial Asthma management. Methodology: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on adult asthmatic patients attending the chronic follow-up department at Jimma University Medical College. A consecutive sampling with an interviewer-administered questionnaire and patient chart review was performed. Results: Therapeutic inertia was identified in 63 (47.7%) study subjects. The associated factors among patients on bronchial asthma management were poor adherence to medications prescribed by a doctor (p-value= 0.013; AOR 5.9; 95% CI 1.5-23.9), no regular follow-up (p-value=0.010; AOR 9.766; 95% CI 1.727-55.216), mild persistent chronic asthma (p-value