Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of participants in a randomized controlled trial of a small-group, interactive education program about asthma
| Trial group
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Intervention n = 201 | Control n = 197 |
| Age, yr, mean (SD) | 7.4 (3.4) | 7.4 (3.3) |
| Sex, ratio of boys to girls | 1.75:1 | 2.34:1 |
| Height, cm, mean (SD) | 127.8 (20.2) | 121.8 (20.6) |
| Weight, kg, mean (SD) | 30.9 (16.6) | 28.3 (14.1) |
| Ethnic background† | ||
| White | 68 | 67 |
| Aboriginal | 6 | 9 |
| Other (Asian, South Asian) | 26 | 24 |
| Socio-economic quintile | ||
| 1 (lowest income) | 18 | 25 |
| 2 | 33 | 19 |
| 3 | 15 | 20 |
| 4 | 19 | 18 |
| 5 (highest income) | 14 | 18 |
| Homes with smokers | 46 | 40 |
| Homes allowing visitors to smoke | 29 | 31 |
| Visits to emergency department in previous year, per child, mean (SEM) | 1.37 (0.07) | 1.34 (0.07) |
| Hospitalizations in previous year, per child, mean (SEM) | 0.21 (0.02) | 0.18 (0.02) |
| FEV1,% predicted,‡ mean (SEM) | 87 (1.04) | 88 (0.97) |
| Using inhaled β-agonist at enrolment | 99.0 | 98.8 |
| Using inhaled corticosteroid at enrolment | 91.2 | 84.0 |
| Oral corticosteroid use in previous year, courses per child, mean (SEM) | 1.53 (0.08) | 1.33 (0.07) |
| Workplace productivity of primary caregiver,§ mean (SEM) | 18.7 (2.4) | 12.9 (2.2) |
Note: FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in 1 second, SD = standard deviation, SEM = standard error of mean.
*
Unless stated otherwise.
†
According to participant-reported maternal heritage.
‡
Based on age and height. Control n = 94, intervention n = 99.
§
Calculated based on percentage of total work hours missed in the month before assessment. Control n = 80, intervention n = 65.