A Multi-center Study on Improvement in Life Quality of Pediatric Patients with Asthma via Continuous Care

Iran J Public Health. 2017 Nov;46(11):1521-1527.

Abstract

Background: To analyze and summarize the effect of continuous care on the life quality and control of asthma of pediatric patients with asthma discharged from multiple hospitals.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was carried out on 172 pediatric patients with asthma aged between 6 and 11 yr old randomly selected from those admitted to five hospitals between January 2014 and December 2015. Among these 172 patients, only 86 (intervention group) received the continuous care between January 2015 and December 2015, while the rest (control group) did not receive from January 2014 and December 2014.

Results: After the patients in the intervention group were discharged from the hospital, the ratio of practical forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to the expected FEV1 at the 12th month was (90.28±10.35)%, and the ratio of peak expiratory flow to the expected value was (84.24±3.43)%, respectively higher than those [(82.73±8.86)% and (75.80±4.67)%] in the control group. Regarding pediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire (PAQLQ) between the intervention group and the control group, the difference had statistical significance (Z=-7.254, P<0.05). Childhood asthma control test (C-ACT) comparison between the intervention group and the control group indicated that the difference had statistical significance (Z=-7.918, P<0.05).

Conclusion: Continuous care can improve the pediatric patient's pulmonary function and life quality, and effectively control the asthmatic symptoms.

Keywords: Asthma; Continuous care; Multi-center; Pediatric patients.