Asthma education program in outpatient children

Ample evidence shows that asthma education programs can reduce morbidity and health care costs and improve quality of life for the patients. Objective. This study was designed to assess ifa short self management program is able to decrease asthma severity and improve family asthma knowledge. Study design. One hundred and twenty children with asthma and their families, at the first visit in the Pediatric Respiratory Department were randomized in two groups: Experimental (E) and Control (C). The E group attended a short asthma self management program; both groups were followed for twelve months. Results. Eight months after, a statistically significant improvement in asthma knowledge (p = 0.05) and self confidence (p = 0.05) was shown in the E group. Twelve months after ,the hospitalization and the asthma attaks were not statistically significantly different between E and C groups; the emergency treatments for asthma were zeroed in the E group (p < 0.06). Conclusion. This suggests that short asthma education program is useful in the treatment of children with asthma.