title: Discrepancies between medical record data and parent reported use of preventive asthma medications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether medical record documentation reflects actual home practices regarding the administration of preventive medications to urban children with persistent asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline data from a prompting asthma intervention were used for this cross-sectional analysis. As part of the larger study, we enrolled children (2-12 years) with persistent asthma in the waiting room at 12 primary care offices (2009-2012). Prior to their visit with a healthcare provider, caregivers reported information regarding their child's asthma symptom severity and current preventive medications (i.e. name and frequency of use). We compared caregiver-reported medication information with medical record data to determine the rate of complete concordance, defined as total consistency between the prescribed medication data documented in the medical record and parent report describing how the child is actually using the medication at home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to 310 completed medical record reviews, 194 (62%) children had a current prescription for a daily preventive asthma medication. Of these children, 110 (57%) had caregivers who reported complete concordance. Those reporting complete concordance were more likely to have children with greater symptom severity, including fewer symptom-free days in the prior two weeks (6.9 vs. 8.7, p = 0. 018), and ≥1 asthma-related hospitalization in the prior year (16% vs. 6%, p = 0. 042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical records may poorly reflect actual home practices and providers should specifically inquire about medication use and barriers to adherence at the time of an office visit to promote guideline-based, consistent treatment for children with persistent asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and the Strong Children's Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester, NY , USA.
authors.forename: Susana J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fagnano
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiesenthal
authors.forename: Alana D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: Jill S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Halterman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010290:Parents; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents