Patient Education Provided to Asthmatic Children: a Historical Cohort Study of the Implementation of NIH Recommendations

NIH guidelines for treatment of childhood asthma emphasize educating both patients and family about avoiding triggers and providing information to support self-management of asthma. To determine the extent to which primary care providers had implemented these recommendations, we examined the patient education provided to a cohort of asthmatic children (n = 331) between January and December 1994. During 1994 education of any type was documented for less than half the children. Provision of education was associated with asthma severity: An action plan for exacerbations was discussed with the majority with moderate or severe asthma (61%). Avoiding triggers (aOR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.37-4.12) and treatment goals (aOR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.46-6.75), were more likely to be discussed with children who were prescribed inhaled anti-inflammatory medication, after adjustment for asthma severity and age. Limited implementation of the NIH recommendations by primary care providers in our study may have reduced their impact on the management of childhood asthma.