Provider Communication about Control Medications during Pediatric Asthma Visits
Author Information
Author(s): Betsy Sleath, Delesha M. Carpenter, Guadalupe X. Ayala, Dennis Williams, Stephanie Davis, Gail Tudor, Karin Yeatts, Chris Gillette
Primary Institution: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Hypothesis
How do child, caregiver, and provider characteristics affect communication about control medications during pediatric asthma visits?
Conclusion
Providers need to educate and ask more questions of families about side effects and how well control medications are working.
Supporting Evidence
- Providers discussed control medications during 83.4% of encounters.
- Providers educated about control medications during 61.1% of encounters.
- Providers asked questions about control medications during 66.6% of encounters.
- Providers were more likely to discuss control medications if the child had moderate to severe persistent asthma.
- Providers rarely discussed side effects and fears/concerns about control medications.
Takeaway
Doctors should talk more with kids and their parents about asthma medicines to help them understand how to use them better.
Methodology
Children ages 8-16 with asthma and their caregivers were recruited from five pediatric practices, and visits were audio-taped for analysis.
Potential Biases
Providers and caregivers knew they were being recorded, which may have influenced their communication.
Limitations
The study's generalizability is limited to nonurban areas of North Carolina and did not include younger children or adolescents.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 8-16, 46% female, 62% White, 72% with moderate to severe persistent asthma.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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