Baseline characteristics of all recruited patients
| All | (Bio)feedback | Intensive education | p-value | |
| Subjects n | 218 | 111 | 107 | |
| Age years | 49.2±16.5 | 48.2±17.0 | 50.3±15.9 | 0.42 |
| BMI | 29.9±7.0 | 29.7±7.5 | 30.1±6.5 | 0.70 |
| Females % | 64 | 67 | 63 | 0.57 |
| Smoking history % | 0.29 | |||
| Never smokers | 56 | 60 | 52 | |
| Ex-smokers | 36 | 35 | 37 | |
| Current smokers | 8 | 5 | 11 | |
| FEV1 L | 2.2±0.9 | 2.2±0.8 | 2.1±0.9 | 0.75 |
| FEV1 % predicted | 73.0±22.1 | 75.1±20.8 | 70.8±23.3 | 0.23 |
| FEV1/FVC % | 66.2±12 | 68.7±13 | 63.7±12 | 0.3 |
| IgE IU·L−1 | 467.5±877.6 | 434.7±875.8 | 501.2±884.4 | 0.65 |
| Serum eosinophils cells·mL−1 | 0.3±0.4 | 0.3±0.4 | 0.4±0.5 | 0.34 |
| Atopy# % patients | 57 | 55 | 59 | 0.76 |
| Short oral steroid courses in the past year | 3.9±3.4 | 4.1±3.7 | 3.8±3.2 | 0.60 |
| Exacerbations in the past year n | 4.5±3.5 | 4.5±3.7 | 4.5±3.3 | 0.94 |
| Salmeterol/fluticasone dose % patients | 0.83 | |||
| 250 μg | 35 | 36 | 35 | |
| 500 μg | 65 | 64 | 65 | |
| Use of montelukast % patients | 37 | 35 | 39 | 0.57 |
| Use of LAMA % patients | 17 | 16 | 17 | 0.93 |
| GINA control % patients | 0.64 | |||
| Partly controlled | 13 | 13 | 14 | |
| Uncontrolled | 87 | 87 | 86 | |
| AQLQ | 3.7±1.2 | 3.7±1.2 | 3.6±1.2 | 0.53 |
| ACT | 12.1±4.5 | 12.5±4.6 | 11.7±4.3 | 0.25 |
| PEF L·min−1 | 376.1±135.5 | 378.8±128.2 | 373.2±143.3 | 0.37 |
| PEF % expected | 81.6±23.5 | 82.6±22.8 | 80.6±24.3 | 0.57 |
| Inhaler Proficiency Score¶ | 7.5±2.7 | 7.6±2.6 | 7.5±2.8 | 0.70 |
Data presented as mean±sd, unless stated otherwise. #: atopy status was defined as a positive skin prick test response (wheal 3 mm larger than negative control) or a positive radioallergosorbent test (RAST) result to airborne allergens; ¶: Inhaler Proficiency Score is an inhaler technique 10-point checklist, ranging from 0 to 10, where 10 represents the perfect inhaler technique. BMI: body mass index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity; LAMA: long-acting muscarinic antagonist; GINA: Global Initiative for Asthma, AQLQ: Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire; ACT: Asthma Control Test; PEF: peak expiratory flow.