The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does parental involvement in pediatric emergency department asthma treatment affect home management?
To determine whether parents who deliver albuterol treatments in a pediatric emergency department with a metered dose inhaler with a spacer device (MDIS) report better adherence to MDIS use at home compared to parents whose children undergo standard nebulizer therapy. Children aged 1-5 years were randomized by day to usual treatment with nebulized albuterol (40 children) or to treatment by the parent with albuterol with an MDIS (46 children). ⋯ At follow-up, children in the MDIS group were 7.5 times more likely to be using the MDIS for their albuterol treatments (95%CI 1.6-35.6). Involving parents in treatment of asthma exacerbations in the emergency department using an MDIS may improve adherence to MDIS use at home.