Pediatric asthma care in US emergency departments: current practice in the context of the National Institutes of Health guidelines

Article Abstract:

Emergency department treatment for pediatric asthma appears to diverge from the National Asthma Education Program (NAEP) guidelines. Researchers surveyed 216 emergency department directors to study pediatric asthma care and familiarity with the NAEP guidelines. Staff in 2.1% of the emergency departments followed written asthma treatment guidelines. Approximately one-third of all eligible children had peak flow measurements. The NAEP guidelines recommend this lung function test as part of the initial patient assessment and after beta-agonist therapy in children older than five years. Emergency department physicians followed the NAEP guidelines for corticosteroid treatment in approximately half of all eligible patients. Sixty percent of children obtained follow-up care in two or three days as recommended in the NEAP guidelines. Approximately 24% of the emergency department directors had read the NAEP guidelines.

Standards, Usage, Practice guidelines (Medicine), Hospitals, Hospital emergency services, United States. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

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Reported difficulties in access to quality care for children with asthma in the inner city

Article Abstract:

Inner-city children with asthma may disproportionately rely on emergency departments for medical care and may underutilize preventive medications. Researchers assessed asthma care for 1,376 children 4 to 9 years of age in seven metropolitan inner-city, low-income areas. Seventy-five percent relied on the emergency department for short-term asthma care. Fifty-three percent of children with severe asthma did not use inhaled corticosteroids or cromolyn to prevent asthma attacks, although treatment guidelines recommend them. Lack of childcare and transportation were common barriers to care.

Health aspects, Poor children, Inner cities

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Results of a home-based environmental intervention among urban children with asthma

Article Abstract:

A study was conducted to determine whether an environmental intervention tailored to each child's allergic sensitization and environmental risk factors could improve asthma-related outcomes. It was found that among inner-city children with atopic asthma, an individualized, home-based, comprehensive environmental intervention decreases exposure to indoor allergens, resulting in reduced asthma-associated morbidity.

Science & research, Research, Environmental aspects

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