HOW USEFUL DO PARENTS FIND HOME PEAK FLOW MONITORING FOR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA?

[摘要] Purpose of the Study. This study seeks to assess the actual utility of the home peak flow meter (PFM).Methods. In a clinic where all children aged over 5 years receive a peak flow meter, 50 consecutive outpatients' families were given a questionnaire to explore the knowledge of the family consequent to the use of the PFM and their assessment of its utility.Findings. Eighty-four percent of the 50 respondents were familiar with key PFM parameters for their child, and 70% rated the PPM as very useful, another 28% as useful, and one patient as useless. Eighty-eight percent found the PPM useful during an attack of asthma; 46% as useful in assessing the response to bronchodilator therapy. A finding in a small number (20%) of detecting asthma in asymptomatic patients, is also of significance.Conclusion and Comments. These findings support the usefulness of the PPM in home management of asthma in children. There remains some debate over whether its use should be stressed for asthma attacks and asymptomatic patients; some feel that patients should be taught to assess how asthma interferes with their daily life to best judge asthma's need for treatment. This study would have been more useful if such a group had been compared to the PFM group. I personally find that patients are increasingly technology-oriented and use the PFM in the home management of asthma.

[学科分类] 儿科学