AIMS: To evaluate the effect of the implementation of an asthma clinical pathway on asthma in children in general practice. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial involving 270 general practitioners. One group of general practitioners implemented the asthma clinical pathway for children (intervention group) and the control group continued with their usual asthma medical care management. The main outcome measures were admissions to hospital for asthma and attendance at the Children's Emergency Department. Compliance with the guidelines was assessed by examining asthma drug prescriptions. RESULTS: Admissions to hospital for asthma dropped 40% in the intervention group, by 33% in the control group and by 22% in general practitioners not participating in the trial. The differences between the intervention and control and between the intervention and non-participating general practitioners were not statistically significant. The decrease in attendance at the Children's Emergency Department decreased by 25%, 30% and 19%, respectively, but this was not statistically significant. There was a significant decrease in prescriptions for oral relievers, dry powder relievers in the under 6s, mast cell stabilizers and methylxanthines in both control and intervention groups. However, only for oral relievers was there a significant difference between the intervention group and control, with the decrease larger in the intervention group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Admissions to hospital for asthma decreased, as did attendance at the Children's Emergency Department. Prescriptions for asthma medication changed in the direction anticipated with compliance with the asthma clinical pathway. However, we found no evidence within the study that implementation of the asthma clinical pathway by general practitioners resulted in lower morbidity than those general practitioners who did not implement the pathway. Possible explanations are that these general practitioners were already providing care according to the recommendations of the pathway, or that there was contamination of the control group by the intervention, or that the guidelines, although based on currently accepted recommendations, are ineffective.
RCT Entities:
AIMS: To evaluate the effect of the implementation of an asthma clinical pathway on asthma in children in general practice. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial involving 270 general practitioners. One group of general practitioners implemented the asthma clinical pathway for children (intervention group) and the control group continued with their usual asthma medical care management. The main outcome measures were admissions to hospital for asthma and attendance at the Children's Emergency Department. Compliance with the guidelines was assessed by examining asthma drug prescriptions. RESULTS: Admissions to hospital for asthma dropped 40% in the intervention group, by 33% in the control group and by 22% in general practitioners not participating in the trial. The differences between the intervention and control and between the intervention and non-participating general practitioners were not statistically significant. The decrease in attendance at the Children's Emergency Department decreased by 25%, 30% and 19%, respectively, but this was not statistically significant. There was a significant decrease in prescriptions for oral relievers, dry powder relievers in the under 6s, mast cell stabilizers and methylxanthines in both control and intervention groups. However, only for oral relievers was there a significant difference between the intervention group and control, with the decrease larger in the intervention group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Admissions to hospital for asthma decreased, as did attendance at the Children's Emergency Department. Prescriptions for asthma medication changed in the direction anticipated with compliance with the asthma clinical pathway. However, we found no evidence within the study that implementation of the asthma clinical pathway by general practitioners resulted in lower morbidity than those general practitioners who did not implement the pathway. Possible explanations are that these general practitioners were already providing care according to the recommendations of the pathway, or that there was contamination of the control group by the intervention, or that the guidelines, although based on currently accepted recommendations, are ineffective.
Authors: Shanti Mendis; Keiko Fukino; Alexandra Cameron; Richard Laing; Anthonio Filipe; Oussama Khatib; Jerzy Leowski; Margaret Ewen Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Sande O Okelo; Arlene M Butz; Ritu Sharma; Gregory B Diette; Samantha I Pitts; Tracy M King; Shauna T Linn; Manisha Reuben; Yohalakshmi Chelladurai; Karen A Robinson Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2013-08-26 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Alexandra Cameron; Ilse Roubos; Margaret Ewen; Aukje K Mantel-Teeuwisse; Hubertus G M Leufkens; Richard O Laing Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2011-03-14 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Bernhard A Fassl; Flory L Nkoy; Bryan L Stone; Rajendu Srivastava; Tamara D Simon; Derek A Uchida; Karmella Koopmeiners; Tom Greene; Lawrence J Cook; Christopher G Maloney Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2012-08-20 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: B H Rowe; A M Chahal; C H Spooner; S Blitz; A Senthilselvan; D Wilson; B R Holroyd; M Bullard Journal: Can Respir J Date: 2008 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.409