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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

A Randomized, Controlled Study to Evaluate the Role of an In-Home Asthma Disease Management Program Provided by Respiratory Therapists in Improving Outcomes and Reducing the Cost of Care

, PhD, RRT, RPFT, FAARC, , PhD, RRT, FAARC, , RRT, MSHP & , MD
Pages 194-201 | Published online: 02 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Background and purpose. Asthma management programs (AMP) may reduce costs and improve outcomes in patients with moderate to severe asthma. However, it is not known which personnel are best able to deliver such interventions and what settings are most effective. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an in-home AMP provided by respiratory therapists (RTs) to an AMP provided by nurses (RNs) and to usual care (UC) provided in physician offices or clinics. Methods. Subjects (age 18–64) who had been admitted to the emergency department (ED) or hospital for acute asthma exacerbation were randomized to three groups: AMP-RT, AMP-RN or UC. The AMP groups received five (Citation) weekly home visits to provide assessment and instruction; the UC group was instructed to return to their physician for routine follow-up. Outcomes assessed at 6 months included hospitalizations, in patient days, hospitalization cost, ED visits and cost, clinic visits, pulmonary function, symptoms, health related quality of life (HRQOL), asthma episode self-management score (AESM), environmental assessment, and patient satisfaction (PS). Variables were compared using ANOVA with a Neuman-Keuls follow-up for multiple comparisons using an intent-to-treat approach. Results. Upon enrollment, (n = 159) there were no differences (p >. 05) between groups for age, gender, pulmonary function or HRQOL (SF-36 and St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire – SGRQ). At 6 months, both AMP groups (AMP-RN n = 54; AMP-RT n = 46) had significantly fewer (p < 0.05) hospitalizations and in-patient days, lower hospitalization costs, and greater HRQOL physical component summary change scores (PCS) and PS than UC (n = 59). AMP-RT also had greater PEFR, SGRQ Total and SGRQ Symptoms change scores when compared to UC and significantly better AESM and PS scores as compared to AMP-RN and UC. Conclusions. An in-home asthma management program can be effectively delivered by respiratory therapists and may reduce hospitalizations, in-patient days, cost and improve measures of HRQOL and PS in a population prone to asthma exacerbation.

ABBREVIATIONS
AEMS=

asthma episode management scores

AMP=

asthma management program

ED=

emergency department

FVC=

forced vital capacity

FEV1=

forced expiratory volume in one second

HCU=

health care utilization

HRQOL=

health-related quality of life

MCS=

mental component summary score

PCS=

physical component summary score

PEFR=

peak expiratory flow rate

PS=

patient satisfaction

RCT=

randomized controlled trial

RN=

registered nurse

RT=

respiratory therapist

UC=

usual care

SF-36=

Short Form-36, Health Status Profile

SGRQ=

St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire

SpO2=

oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry

ABBREVIATIONS
AEMS=

asthma episode management scores

AMP=

asthma management program

ED=

emergency department

FVC=

forced vital capacity

FEV1=

forced expiratory volume in one second

HCU=

health care utilization

HRQOL=

health-related quality of life

MCS=

mental component summary score

PCS=

physical component summary score

PEFR=

peak expiratory flow rate

PS=

patient satisfaction

RCT=

randomized controlled trial

RN=

registered nurse

RT=

respiratory therapist

UC=

usual care

SF-36=

Short Form-36, Health Status Profile

SGRQ=

St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire

SpO2=

oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry

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