| Methods |
DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial of two interventions.
METHOD OF RANDOMISATION: Stratified by severity and blocked to ensure 2 of every 6 participants were assigned in each group
MEANS OF ALLOCATION CONCEALMENT‐ Closed envelope technique
OUTCOME ASSESSOR BLINDING‐ Blinded
WITHDRAWAL/DROPOUTS‐ 7% attrition rate. All participants not accounted for. |
| Participants |
Eligible: Not stated
Randomised: 236
Completed: 221
Age: Mean: not stated
Range: 94 (41%) < 40 yrs, 138 (59%) >= 40 yrs
Sex: Male/Female: 71 / 161
Asthma Diagnosis: Doctor diagnosis and objective lung function.
Recruitment: Pulmonary clinic visit
Diseases Included: Not stated.
Major Exclusions: Not stated.
Baseline:
FEV1: not reported
PEF: not reported
Exacerbations: moderate to severe asthmatics |
| Interventions |
Setting: Outpatients clinic
Type: Two self management interventions, one modified, and a usual care control group.
(1) Counselling re use of skill‐oriented self help work book including info on asthma physiology, medications, trigger avoidance detection, response to asthma attacks and inhaler technique. No individualised action plan.
(2) Instruction of use of a modified work book, inhaler technique and peak flow meter use.
(3) control group received usual care and some asthma literature.
Duration:
(a) One 1 hour individual session and 2 asthma support group meetings.
(b) One 15 minute individual session plus a 1 week follow‐up phone call and at 2 weeks a letter to encourage adherence. |
| Outcomes |
Medication & inhaler adherence, symptoms, respiratory illness, functional impairment & use of health care services. |
| Notes |
Jadad Score = 4 |
| 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) |
