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Published on: November 4, 2010

Parent-initiated oral corticosteroid therapy for acute asthma: a survey of current practice

Peter J Vuillermin1, Mike South, John B Carlin

  • 1Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. peterv@barwonhealth.org.au

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|May 31, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Most doctors recommend parent-initiated oral corticosteroids (PIOCS) for childhood asthma, but few parents report receiving this advice. This highlights a significant gap in asthma management communication.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Asthma Management
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Parent-initiated oral corticosteroids (PIOCS) are a recommended treatment for acute asthma in children.
  • Effective communication between healthcare providers and parents is crucial for optimal asthma care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the proportion of doctors recommending PIOCS for acute asthma.
  • To determine the proportion of parents who have received advice on PIOCS.

Main Methods:

  • An internet-based survey of doctors caring for children with asthma.
  • A questionnaire survey of parents of children aged 4-13 years in Victoria, Australia.

Main Results:

  • 85% of surveyed doctors reported recommending PIOCS to parents.
  • Only 16.5% of parents of children with recent asthma symptoms reported receiving PIOCS advice.

Conclusions:

  • A majority of doctors recommend PIOCS for childhood asthma.
  • There is a notable discrepancy between doctor recommendations and parental reports of receiving this advice, indicating a communication gap in asthma management.
Abstract

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