Many children have asthma and this causes problems with their health. A lot of children with uncontrolled asthma use emergency departments for asthma care, and so this is an ideal place for an intervention for these children. One intervention is prescribing inhaled steroids to children with uncontrolled asthma, but currently this is rarely done in the emergency department. Inhaled steroids have been shown to be good at making children better long-term when they have uncontrolled asthma. This study identifies children in the emergency department with uncontrolled asthma using a tool called the Pediatric Asthma Control and Communication Instrument (PACCI). If children meet criteria for uncontrolled asthma they will be randomly assigned to either: 1) routine asthma care which includes close follow up with their doctor or 2) prescribing of an inhaled corticosteroid from the emergency department. The investigators hypothesize that children who are prescribed inhaled steroids for uncontrolled asthma from the emergency department will have better 6 month asthma control than children who receive routine asthma care.
Specific aim 1 - An ED-based RCT to determine if ICS prescription in children identified using the PACCI as having uncontrolled asthma results in less asthma morbidity compared to routine asthma care. We hypothesize that children receiving ICS prescriptions will have fewer unscheduled health care use for asthma exacerbations (doctor's office visits, ED visits, or hospitalizations), and greater quality of life. Specific aim 2 - Thematic analysis of interviews with parents who are adherent versus non-adherent with ICS prescription filling and use to determine the factors associated with adherence. We hypothesize that factors will include: 1) Parent beliefs about the chronic versus episodic nature of asthma, 2) Parent's knowledge of benefits and risks of ICS, and 3) Provision and use of an asthma action plan.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
118
During discharge, the study MD/nurse informs the family that the child has been randomized to the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) group, and will be prescribed fluticasone to help control the asthma. The families preferred pharmacy is determined and a prescription for a fluticasone multi-dose inhaler (MDI) provided. Dosing follows the NHLBI asthma guidelines for low dose ICS in this age group (88 mcg administered twice per day, dispense one inhaler, 3 refills). In addition to standard asthma discharge instructions, the family receives specific instructions for ICS administration, possible side effects of medication use, and distinction between controller and quick-relief rescue medications. Parents are instructed to discuss with their primary care provider the length of ICS use.
Study MD or nurse provides asthma discharge instructions using a standardized checklist. The topics covered include 1) description of asthma manifestations related to current visit, 2) signs of respiratory distress family should be looking for, 3) instructions to follow up with the child's primary care provider within one week, 4) provision and review of an asthma action plan, 5) provision of a spacer device to be used with inhalers (if family does not already possess), and 6) smoking cessation advice. (if indicated)
Rhode Island Hospital / Hasbro Children's Hospital
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Quality-of-life Using the Integrated Therapeutics Group Child Asthma Short Form
The Integrated Therapeutics Group Child Asthma Short Form (ITG-CASF) has been validated in the ED setting for children 2 to 17 years old, is reliable (Cronbach's α =0.70), and can be administered by telephone. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale. Each response is scaled as a percentage of the maximum response, and the total score is the maximum percentage based on the number of questions answered. The scores range from 0 (minimum) - 100 (maximum), with higher scores reflecting better quality of life. The change in ITG-CASF scores for children with improved overall clinical status are 10 points higher than when children have not improved.
Time frame: 6 months
ED Visits for Asthma
Emergency department visits for asthma over a 6 month period by parent report.
Time frame: 6 months
Primary Care Visits for Well Checks
Primary care visits well checks over a 6 month period by parent report.
Time frame: 6 months
Hospitalizations for Asthma
Hospitalizations for asthma over a 6 month period by parent report.
Time frame: 6 months
Unscheduled Primary Care Visits
Unscheduled primary care visits for asthma over a 6 month period by parent report.
Time frame: 6 months
Oral Steroid Courses
Oral steroid courses over a 6 month period by parent report.
Time frame: 6 months
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