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Smith N, Smith A, Wang A, Shaw K, Groeneweg G, Goldman RD, Wilkinson B, Jimenez R, Mwai L, Carleton B. Physician and parent barriers to the use of oral corticosteroids for the prevention of paediatric URTI-induced acute asthma exacerbations at home. Paediatr Child Health 2017; 22:190-194. [PMID: 29479212 DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxx047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Administration of oral corticosteroids at the onset of an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) can be effective in the management of acute asthma exacerbations in children. This study was designed to identify barriers to parent-initiated implementation of clinical practice guideline-recommended use of oral corticosteroids for prophylaxis against severe asthma exacerbations in children. Methods Twenty-seven children who presented to BC Children's Hospital with URTI-induced asthma exacerbations were recruited. Parents received a filled prescription for a course of oral corticosteroids to be used at the earliest onset of their child's next URTI. Each family was contacted monthly over a 1-year period to inquire about URTI events, asthma symptoms, medication use and health care utilization. Focus groups were held with family physicians, paediatricians and parents; transcripts were analyzed qualitatively to identify key themes. Results Incidence of URTI events among participants was high (85%). Uptake of study medication was low; 44% used the medication as directed at their first URTI event. Eleven per cent of the patients who used the study medication also visited the emergency department for an exacerbation. Focus groups identified four main barriers to the effective use of parent-initiated oral corticosteroids: physician resistance and conflicting messages from providers; parent uncertainty about oral corticosteroids; multiple caregivers and relative ease of access to an emergency department. Conclusion We have identified key barriers to the effective use of parent-administered oral corticosteroids as an asthma management strategy and gained important insights regarding the research that is required to enhance the applicability of the strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neale Smith
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Anne Smith
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Alice Wang
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Kaitlyn Shaw
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Gabriella Groeneweg
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Ran D Goldman
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Pediatric Research in Emergency Therapeutics (PRETx.org), Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Bryan Wilkinson
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Ricardo Jimenez
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Leah Mwai
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Bruce Carleton
- Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.,Pharmaceutical Outcomes Programme, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia
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Ducharme FM, Jensen ME, Mendelson MJ, Parkin PC, Desplats E, Zhang X, Platt R. Asthma Flare-up Diary for Young Children to monitor the severity of exacerbations. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015; 137:744-9.e6. [PMID: 26341275 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few instruments exist to ascertain the severity of a preschool-aged child's asthma exacerbations managed at home. OBJECTIVE We sought to develop and validate a functional status instrument to assess asthma exacerbation severity in preschoolers. METHODS The parent-completed Asthma Flare-up Diary for Young Children (ADYC), which was developed systematically, comprises 17 items, each scored from 1 (best) to 7 (worst). The ADYC was completed daily from the onset of an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) until asthma symptom resolution; the cumulative daily score was reported. The ADYC was examined for key psychometric properties in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of pre-emptive high-dose fluticasone in preschoolers with URTI-induced asthma. RESULTS In 121 children aged 2.7 ± 1.1 years (59.5% male), the ADYC's internal consistency (Cronbach α = .97), feasibility (97% completion), and test-retest reliability (r = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59-0.80) were demonstrated. The ADYC was responsive to change between 2 consecutive days (Guyatt statistic = 0.77) with a minimal important difference of 0.22 (0.17-0.27). Of 871 episodes, the cumulative ADYC score was significantly higher during exacerbations than during URTIs (mean difference [MD], 7.6; 95% CI, 6.4-8.9) and for exacerbations with an acute-care visit (MD, 9.1; 95% CI, 7.6-10.7), systemic corticosteroids (MD, 10.1; 95% CI, 8.3-12.0), and hospitalization (MD, 6.8; 95% CI, 2.9-10.7) versus those without. In children receiving fluticasone, the ADYC score was significantly lower versus that in the placebo group (MD, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.8-8.3). CONCLUSIONS The 17-item ADYC proved feasible, responsive to day-to-day changes, and discriminative across exacerbations of different severities. In a trial testing effective therapy in preschoolers, it identified a significant reduction in asthma exacerbation severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francine M Ducharme
- Departments of Pediatrics and Social and Preventive Medicine, Sainte-Justine University Health Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Clinical Research and Knowledge Transfer Unit on Childhood Asthma, Research Centre, Sainte-Justine University Health Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Megan E Jensen
- Clinical Research and Knowledge Transfer Unit on Childhood Asthma, Research Centre, Sainte-Justine University Health Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Patricia C Parkin
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eve Desplats
- Unité de recherche clinique appliquée, Research Center, Sainte-Justine University Health Centre, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Xun Zhang
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Robert Platt
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Self TH, Patterson SJ, Headley AS, Finch CK. Action plans to reduce hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations: focus on oral corticosteroids. Curr Med Res Opin 2014; 30:2607-15. [PMID: 24926733 DOI: 10.1185/03007995.2014.934795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a huge burden of suffering and healthcare expenditures. Patients hospitalized due to COPD have increased risk of death. Starting in 2015, reimbursements by the Centers for Medicaid Medicare Services will be significantly reduced to hospitals with excess 30 day readmissions for COPD. Oral corticosteroid (OCS) therapy is established in improving outcomes in COPD patients treated in the emergency department and hospital. The objective of this article is to review the evidence evaluating home OCS treatment of COPD exacerbations as part of a comprehensive self-management action plan. METHODS We reviewed the English literature via PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using the search terms: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations AND: oral corticosteroids, prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, treatment, self-management, disease management, written action plans. When pertinent articles were found, we reviewed the relevant articles cited. FINDINGS Two randomized trials enrolling 933 patients provide evidence of reduced rates of hospitalization by using comprehensive COPD action plans, including OCS therapy. Three trials with 790 patients enrolled did not reveal reduced rates of hospitalization. Among all five trials together, there were no differences in deaths (76 in the intervention groups [home action plans]; 81 in the usual care groups). Additional studies not assessing hospitalizations have found home use of OCSs increases time to the next exacerbation and decreases recovery time. CONCLUSION Further randomized trials are needed to establish that home use of OCS therapy, as part of a comprehensive action plan, reduces the rate of hospitalizations. Such action plans should include structured patient education, early initiation of OCSs, oral antibiotics, and frequent telephone reinforcement and support from case management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy H Self
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Methodist University Hospital , Memphis, TN , USA
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Fuhrman C, Dubus JC, Marguet C, Delacourt C, Thumerelle C, de Blic J, Delmas MC. Hospitalizations for asthma in children are linked to undertreatment and insufficient asthma education. J Asthma 2011; 48:565-71. [PMID: 21595608 DOI: 10.3109/02770903.2011.580031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most hospital admissions for asthma exacerbation are avoidable with adequate disease management. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of children hospitalized with an asthma exacerbation to identify modifiable factors leading to hospitalization. METHODS The study was conducted in 14 pediatric units and included children 3-17 years of age who were hospitalized for an asthma exacerbation. The present analysis covers 498 children with known asthma. Staff physicians used a standardized questionnaire to collect data. Asthma history came from a parental interview and included usual asthma care, frequency of symptoms and quick-relief medication use in the previous month, frequency of exacerbations and number of unscheduled healthcare visits during the past year, and prior asthma-related hospitalizations. RESULTS More than half the children had previously been hospitalized for an exacerbation, 42% used continuous inhaled corticosteroids, and 57% had a regular follow-up for asthma. Asthma had been well controlled over the past year for 11%, 12% had experienced exacerbations during the past year but that had been optimally controlled during the previous month, and 11% had recently become poorly controlled (infrequent exacerbations in the previous year and non-optimal control in the previous month). The remaining 327 children (66%) were consistently poorly controlled (non-optimal asthma control in the previous month and frequent exacerbations over the previous year). Among this group, 69% had at least one of the following preventable risk factors for hospitalization: no regular controller therapy (49%), no asthma action plan (40%), or no follow-up for asthma (35%). CONCLUSIONS Two-thirds of the children with asthma hospitalized for an exacerbation had been consistently poorly controlled during the previous year. They were frequently undertreated and insufficiently educated about asthma. Further efforts are needed to improve asthma treatment and education in France.
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