Efficacy of a Filipino Asthma Action Plan in the Management of Children Aged 6 to 18 with Partly Controlled or Uncontrolled Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70552/pjaai.25.1.14125Keywords:
bronchial asthma, written asthma action plan, asthma exacerbation, efficacyAbstract
Objectives: The study determined the efficacy of the Filipino written asthma action plan (WAAP) in terms of the number of ER visits for asthma attacks, number of asthmatic attacks, night-time awakenings, school days missed, need for rescue medication, peak expiratory flow rate, level of asthma control, step-down in maintenance medications and quality of life.
Methodology: This prospective randomized open, blinded end-point study was conducted at the Pediatric outpatient and emergency room of a tertiary government hospital and private clinics of an Allergy consultant. One hundred eighty-six children with partly controlled or uncontrolled asthma aged 6–18 years were randomized into 2 groups: with action plan and without action plan. Among these, 165 participants completed the study. A co-investigator interviewed participants 3 to 5 times over 3 months. She administered the quality of life questionnaire and gave instructions to the intervention group regarding use of WAAP and corresponding peak flow meter. The participants were given access to free asthma medications.
Results: All parameters significantly improved for most patients throughout the study. No statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups in terms of number of ER visits for asthma attacks (p = 1.000), number of asthmatic attacks (p = 0.7678), night-time awakenings (p = 0.8562), school days missed (p = 0.9530), need for rescue medication (p = 0.3487), peak expiratory flow rate (p = 0.5166), level of asthma control (p = 0.9944), step-down in maintenance medications (p = 0.1688) and quality of life scores (p = 0.2118).
Conclusion: The validated Filipino asthma action plan is as equally effective as verbal instructions as adjunct in the management of asthma in the study population.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Erika Marie T. Rangel, MD, Addah S. de Peralta, MD, Katrina Faith A. San Gabriel, MD, Marysia Stella T. Recto, MD, Roxanne J. Casis-Hao, MD, Mary Anne R. Castor, MD, Madeleine W. Sumpaico, MD
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