Feather vs. non-feather bedding for asthma.
BACKGROUND
Two recent epidemiological studies have reported that children using non-feather pillows suffered from more frequent episodes of wheeze than those using feather pillows


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of using feather bedding in the control of asthma symptoms.


METHODS
The Cochrane Airways Group asthma clinical trials register, derived from MEDLINE, EMBASE and hand searching of major journals, was searched using the terms: feather OR bed* OR linen* OR pillow


METHODS
Only randomised or controlled clinical trials were to be included.


METHODS
No trials met the inclusion criteria for the review.


RESULTS
126 abstracts were identified. Ten of these were identified as possibly meeting the entry criteria, but on review of the full paper not were suitable. The reasons for exclusion were: not a randomised trial (n=6); allocation of bedding type combined with another intervention (n=4).


CONCLUSIONS
Whilst recent epidemiological studies suggest that feather bedding is associated with less frequent wheeze than man-made fibre fillings, the evidence currently available is insufficient to assess the clinical benefits of feather bedding in the management of asthma.
Campbell
F
F
Royal College of Nursing, Radcliffe Royal Infirmary, Woodstock Road, Oxford, UK, OX2 6HE. fiona.campbell@rcn.org.uk
Jones
K
K
D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D002648:Child; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic