Parent-initiated oral corticosteroid therapy for acute asthma: a survey of current practice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine (i) the proportion of doctors who recommend parent-initiated oral corticosteroids (PIOCS) for acute asthma; and (ii) the proportion of parents who have received this advice.


METHODS
(i) An internet-based survey of doctors involved in the care of children with asthma; and (ii) a questionnaire-based survey of parents of children aged 4-13 years who were identified from a random sample of primary schools within the Barwon region of Victoria.


RESULTS
Eight-five per cent (95% confidence interval 80.0-89.1%) of responding doctors reported recommending PIOCS to parents of children with asthma. However, only 16.5% (95% confidence interval 14.2-18.7%) of parents of children with recent asthma symptoms report that they have received such advice.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of responding doctors involved in the care of children with asthma report recommending PIOCS to parents. By contrast, a minority of parents of children with asthma report that they have received such advice.
Vuillermin
Peter J
PJ
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. peterv@barwonhealth.org.au
South
Mike
M
Carlin
John B
JB
Biscan
Maree I
MI
Brennan
Sharon L
SL
Robertson
Colin F
CF
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012135:Respiratory Sounds
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone