Survey of asthma practice among emergency physicians.
OBJECTIVE
The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) published guidelines for asthma management in 1991. The purpose of this study is to assess the concordance between emergency physicians' practice and the guidelines.


METHODS
Survey mailed to emergency physicians. Non-respondents were mailed a second copy of the survey.


METHODS
Eight hundred randomly selected active members of the American College of Emergency Physicians.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Participants were asked questions regarding training, current asthma practices, and sources of information on asthma management.


RESULTS
Eight hundred questionnaires were mailed, of which 416 (52%) were returned. Sixty-four percent of respondents administer beta-agonists consistent with the NAEPP guidelines. Seventy-five percent of respondents administer corticosteroids in similar accord, while 75% prescribed outpatient corticosteroids in concordance with those recommendations. Forty-seven percent report measuring pretreatment pulmonary function more than half the time and only 38% report checking pulmonary function prior to disposition more than half the time.


CONCLUSIONS
Most emergency physicians surveyed use beta-agonists and steroids at least as often as recommended. A minority of emergency physicians reported utilizing pulmonary function testing in the manner recommended by the NAEPP.
Emerman
C L
CL
Department of Emergency Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
Cydulka
R K
RK
Skobeloff
E
E
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests