ObjectiveTo explore whether education and management of medical care integration can improve asthma control. MethodsA prospective, 12-month, cohort study was undertaken in a real-world setting based on Australasian severe asthma network (ASAN). A total of 516 patients with stable asthma were consecutively recruited, who received education and management of medical care integration, and step-wise anti-asthma regimens determined by physicians’ standard practice. Furthermore, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) adherence, lung function, asthma symptom control and exacerbation were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. ResultsAt the end of 12 months, ICS adherence (47.7% vs. 81.5%, P<0.05), lung function, and asthma symptoms were assessed by asthma control text (ACT) [20 (16, 23) vs. 23 (21, 24), P<0.05], which were significantly improved in comparison to the status at baseline, and 86.0% of patients achieved total/well-controlled level of asthma. The exacerbation (14.2% vs. 36.2%, P<0.01) and hospitalizations (8.5% vs. 15.3%, P<0.01) because of asthma for the following year significantly decreased compared with those in the past year. The multivariate regression analysis indicated that poor ICS adherence (RR=1.52, 95%CI 1.02 to 2.25, P=0.039), depression symptoms (RR=1.19, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.34, P=0.007), and exacerbation during the past year (RR=2.81, 95%CI 1.49 to 5.27, P=0.001) were associated with an increased risk of future exacerbation. ConclusionIn a real-world setting, most of asthmatics achieve total/well-controlled asthma by education and management of medical care integration including shared decision-making between physicians and patients and step-wise anti-asthma regimens. ICS adherence and depression symptoms independently predict asthma exacerbations, and strengthening education and management of medical care integration, esp. psychological nursing, would improve asthma control levels.