| Methods |
DESIGN: Randomised Controlled Trial.
METHOD OF RANDOMISATION: randomised.
METHOD OF ALLOCATION CONCEALMENT: closed envelope technique.
OUTCOME ASSESSOR BLINDING: outcome assessors were blinded.
WITHDRAWAL/DROPOUTS: all subjects accounted for. |
| Participants |
Eligible: 980
Randomised: 500: Intervention 251; Control 249.
Completed: 451
Age: 2‐5 years: Intervention 25% Control 26%. 6‐14 years:Intervention 19% Control 21%. 15‐29 years Intervention 30% Control 32%. 30‐55 years: Intervention 25% Control 21%.
Sex: Male / Female Intervention 38/62% Control 46/54%
Asthma Diagnosis: Doctor's diagnosis
Recruitment: Emergency Room Attenders (whether hospitalisation was required or not)
Diseases Included: not stated
Major exclusions: not stated
Baseline:
FEV1: not stated
PEF: not stated
Exacerbations: not stated |
| Interventions |
Setting: Community Education Centre.
Type: Education, self‐monitoring of symptoms and peak flow, regular review (advised to seek regular review from their GP).
Participants were advised to obtain a written action plan from their GP which allowed self adjustment of medications in the event of worsening asthma but as this was not a part of the intervention, it was not characterised as Optimal Self Management but Self Monitoring and Regular Review.
Duration: Not stated |
| Outcomes |
Hospital admissions, ER visits, Unscheduled doctor visits, days lost from work or school, nocturnal awakening, asthma status (same worse better), PEF variability, Symptoms, dyspnoea on exercise. |
| Notes |
Only about 60% of data refers to adults. |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Low risk |
Study investigators unaware as to order of treatment group assignment (Cochrane Grade A) |
