title: The effectiveness of non-pharmacological healthcare interventions for asthma management during pregnancy: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While reviews have been published on asthma management in pregnant women, none has examined the effectiveness of non-pharmacological healthcare interventions for optimizing asthma management in pregnant women. This systematic review aims to identify non-pharmacological healthcare interventions for optimizing asthma management during pregnancy and to examine their effects on maternal asthma control and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) were searched. Two reviewers independently assessed the identified studies against the eligibility criteria and extracted relevant information. The effects of the intervention were assessed qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine studies were identified, of which six were rejected according to the exclusion criteria. The three studies included in the final review described an education program, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and Fraction of exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) guided management of asthma in pregnant women. The PMR and FeNO-guided interventions showed significant improvements in maternal asthma control (lung function and quality of life) and neonatal outcomes (birth weight).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further evidence from well-designed studies evaluating non-pharmacological healthcare interventions for optimizing asthma management in pregnant women is required.
authors.forename: Elida
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zairina
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia. Johnson.George@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Johnson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome