This Study Compared an in Home Asthma Management Program Provided by Nurses or Respiratory Therapist

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio159 enrolled

Overview

This study compared an in-home asthma management program provided by nurses or respiratory therapists to see if those receiving program had fewer hospitalizations, clinic and emergency room visits and higher levels of satisfaction and health related quality of life.

Background: Disease management may improve outcomes and reduce cost. We compared an in-home asthma management program (AMP) delivered by respiratory therapists (RTs) or nurses (RNs) to standard care (SC) in 159 adults with moderate to severe asthma to determine the effect on health care utilization (HCU), patient satisfaction (PS) and health related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: This single center, prospective trial randomized subjects, age 18-64, to three groups: SC, AMP-RT or AMP-RN. Outcomes at six-months were HCU, cost, pulmonary function, symptoms, environmental assessment, asthma self-management, HRQOL (SF-36; St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire \[SGRQ\]) and PS. Frequencies were compared using chi 2; all other variables were compared using ANOVA with a post-hoc test.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

159

Conditions

Asthma

Interventions

In-home asthma management program (AMP) provided by nursesBEHAVIORAL

The AMP included asthma education (medications use, monitoring, triggers, steps to manage asthma attacks), demonstration and training (peak flow meter use, MDI and nebulizer use, asthma diary), home environment assessment and suggestions for environmental changes (mattress covers, control of dust, pets, fumes, cleaning materials, cock roach control, etc.)

In-home asthma management program (AMP) provided by respiratory therapistsBEHAVIORAL

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 64 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients (age 18-64 years) treated in the ED or hospitalized for an acute exacerbation of asthma at the university teaching hospital were invited to participate. Exclusion Criteria: * Included other pulmonary disorders or diagnosis of co-morbid disease which was disabling in nature.

Locations (1)

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Health care utilization (hospitalizations, hospital days, emergency room visits, clinic visits) and cost.

Time frame: 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

Health related quality of life (SF-36 and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire), oxygenation, pulmonary function, symptoms, patient satisfaction and asthma self-management score

Time frame: 6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.