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Inhaled corticosteroid prescribing from the emergency department for children with asthma
Glenn Clinton Shedd1, Dian Dowling Evans
1Department of Family and Community Nursing, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. gshedd@emory.edu
Insights
This study analyzed emergency department data to understand inhaled corticosteroid prescribing for pediatric asthma. Findings highlight potential gaps in guideline adherence for asthma exacerbation management in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Pulmonology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in children.
- Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are foundational for persistent asthma control.
- Guidelines recommend ICS for moderate-to-severe persistent asthma and during exacerbations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the frequency of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) prescription for children with asthma in US emergency departments.
- To evaluate ICS prescribing patterns in relation to current asthma management guidelines.
- To assess the implications of prescribing patterns for emergency department (ED) practice.
Main Methods:
- Secondary data analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) database.
- Examined demographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric asthma visits.
- Assessed ICS prescribing rates among children diagnosed with asthma in the ED.
Main Results:
- The study identified specific trends in ICS utilization for pediatric asthma patients in emergency settings.
- Prescribing patterns were analyzed in the context of asthma severity and exacerbation management.
- Variations in ICS prescription frequency were observed, suggesting potential areas for practice improvement.
Conclusions:
- The findings underscore the importance of adhering to national guidelines for ICS use in pediatric asthma exacerbations.
- Opportunities exist to optimize ICS prescribing in emergency departments to improve long-term asthma control.
- This research provides valuable insights for clinicians managing pediatric asthma in acute care settings.
Abstract:
In the article "Frequency of Prescription of Inhaled Corticosteroids to Children With Asthma in U.S. Emergency Departments," the authors conducted a secondary data analysis from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database to examine inhaled corticosteroid prescribing patterns of providers caring for children with asthma visiting emergency departments. We review and critique this article and use a case study module to illustrate the importance of the research findings and how they relate to practice in the emergency department in light of current national guidelines for managing asthma exacerbations.
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