Observations on the management of childhood acute asthma in a large hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To study the documentation of assessment, the treatment and the follow-up arrangements for children admitted to hospital with acute asthma.


METHODS
A retrospective audit of case notes.


METHODS
Tertiary level teaching hospital.


METHODS
A comparison with the asthma management plan issued by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.


RESULTS
We found poor documentation of assessment of asthma severity, low referral rates for asthma education, and inappropriate use of chest radiography. Bronchodilator therapy did not follow published guidelines. Good follow-up arrangements were achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of children with documentation of the assessment of acute asthma was unacceptably low.
Dawson
K P
KP
Department of Paediatrics, Westmead Hospital, NSW.
Penna
A C
AC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000359:Aftercare; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards; D009517:New South Wales; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents