Use the Back button in your browser to see the other results of your search or to select another record.

Detailed Search Results

Effectiveness of an education programme by a general practice assistant for asthma and COPD patients: results from a randomised controlled trial [with consumer summary]
Hesselink A, Penninx B, van der Windt D, van Duin B, de Vries P, Twisk J, Bouter LM, van Eijk JT
Patient Education and Counseling 2004 Oct;55(1):121-128
clinical trial
6/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: Yes; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: Yes; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

In this study a randomised controlled trial was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of an education programme for patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). All asthma and COPD patients using medication and experiencing pulmonary symptoms were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 139) or usual-care group (n = 137). The intervention consisted of taylor-made education conducted by a general practice assistant and focussing on a patients' technical skills and coping with the disease. Measurements took place at baseline, and after 1 and 2 years of follow-up. After 1 and 2 years the inhalation technique was significantly better in the intervention group compared to the usual-care group. No significant differences were observed regarding disease symptoms, health related quality of life, compliance, smoking cessation, self-efficacy, and coping. The results only support the implementation of the intervention regarding the technical skills (inhalation technique). However, given the importance of improvement of patients' coping and the need for more efficient care, we recommend further exploration of the possibilities of a more structured and intensive education programme.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help