Children in the ACT with asthma--are they taking preventer medication according to guidelines?
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain whether children with asthma in the Australian Capital Territory were taking preventer medications in accordance with National Asthma Council Australia guidelines.


METHODS
Questionnaires were distributed to all parents who indicated in an ACT wide survey of school entry children in 2005 that their child had asthma (n=435), or experienced asthma symptoms/took asthma medication (n=501), exploring dose, frequency and mode of delivery of preventer their child was currently taking.


RESULTS
Data were available for 256 children (response rate 27%). Of the children with parent reported asthma (n=435) the response rate was 42%. Eighty-three (32%) children were currently taking preventers; complete medication details were provided for 60 children. A total of 32% of children on preventers were taking doses of preventers not in accordance with guidelines, while 80% of children were taking their medications at frequencies, or using delivery devices, not in accordance with guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that home medical management of asthma with preventers for children may not be optimal.
Brown
Maree
M
Community Asthma Support Service, ACT Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. maree.brown@act.gov.au
Phillips
Christine B
CB
Ciszek
Karen
K
Burton
Debbie
D
Attewell
Robyn
R
McDonald
Tim
T
Dwan
Kathryn
K
D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020958:Australian Capital Territory; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016903:Drug Monitoring
D000730:Androstadienes; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019819:Budesonide; D000068298:Fluticasone; D001507:Beclomethasone