Effectiveness of asthma education with and without a self-management plan in hospitalized children.
Background. Formal education in primary care can reduce asthma exacerbations. However, there are few studies in hospitalized children, with none originating in Latin America. Methods. A prospective randomized study was designed to evaluate whether a full education with self-management plan (ESM) was more effective than an education without self-management plan (E) in reducing asthma hospitalization. Children (5 to 15 years of age) who were hospitalized for an asthma attack were divided in two groups. Children in the E group received general instructions based on a booklet. Those in the ESM group received the same booklet plus a self-management guide and a puzzle game that reinforces the lessons learned in the booklet. Patients were interviewed every 3 months, by telephone, for one year. Interviewers recording the number of hospitalizations, exacerbations, and emergency visits for asthma and oral steroid burst uses. Results. From 88 children who met the inclusion criteria, 77 (86%) completed one year of follow-up (41 from E and 36 from ESM group). Overall, after one year, the hospitalization decreased by 66% and the inhaled corticosteroids therapy increased from 36% to 79%. At the end of the study, there was no difference in exacerbations, emergency visits, oral steroid burst uses, or hospitalizations between the two groups. Conclusions. Asthma education with or without a self-management plan during asthma hospitalization were effective in reducing exacerbations, emergency visits, oral steroid burst uses, and future rehospitalizations. This evidence supports the importance of providing a complete asthma education plan in any patient who is admitted for asthma exacerbation.
Espinoza-Palma
Tatiana
T
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Cristobal Colón 3770 depto 75, Las condes, Santiago, Chile. tatita25@gmail.com
Zamorano
Alejandra
A
Arancibia
Francisca
F
Bustos
María-Francisca
MF
Silva
Maria José
MJ
Cardenas
Consuelo
C
De La Barra
Pedro
P
Puente
Victoria
V
Cerda
Jaime
J
Castro-Rodriguez
José A
JA
Prado
Francisco
F
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000193:education*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*
D011241:Prednisone