Effect of salbutamol on the measurement of single-breath diffusing capacity.

Background And Objective: The bronchodilation and cardiovascular effects of bronchodilators may alter alveolar ventilation and perfusion distribution, which could subsequently affect single-breath diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DL ,CO) measurements. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salbutamol on DL ,CO in subjects with and without airway obstruction and reversibility.

Methods: Sixty subjects were investigated with 20 in each of the three groups: normal spirometry; irreversible obstruction; and reversible obstruction.

The contribution of goal specificity to goal achievement in collaborative goal setting for the management of asthma.

Background: Goal setting was investigated as part of an implementation trial of an asthma management service (PAMS) conducted in 96 Australian community pharmacies. Patients and pharmacists identified asthma-related issues of concern to the patient and collaboratively set goals to address these. Although goal setting is commonly integrated into disease state management interventions, the nature of goals, and their contribution to goal attainment and health outcomes are not well understood.

Registered nurses' smoking behaviours and their attitudes to personal cessation.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess smoking behaviour of nurses including; (1) smoking prevalence and nicotine dependence; (2) demographic characteristics according to smoking status and (3) attitudes to cessation amongst current smokers.

Background: Smoking amongst nurses is a barrier to the delivery of patient smoking cessation interventions. Studies on the smoking behaviour of nurses have lagged behind government surveys on smoking prevalence in the general population.

Recent consumption of a large meal does not affect measurements of lung function.

Background And Objective: It is currently recommended that patients avoid large meals prior to their lung function tests. The aim of this study is to determine whether this recommendation is necessary in clinical practice.

Methods: A randomized controlled cross-over trial was conducted.

Children in the ACT with asthma--are they taking preventer medication according to guidelines?

Aim: To ascertain whether children with asthma in the Australian Capital Territory were taking preventer medications in accordance with National Asthma Council Australia guidelines.

Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to all parents who indicated in an ACT wide survey of school entry children in 2005 that their child had asthma (n=435), or experienced asthma symptoms/took asthma medication (n=501), exploring dose, frequency and mode of delivery of preventer their child was currently taking.

Results: Data were available for 256 children (response rate 27%).

Pharmacy Asthma Care Program (PACP) improves outcomes for patients in the community.

Background: Despite national disease management plans, optimal asthma management remains a challenge in Australia. Community pharmacists are ideally placed to implement new strategies that aim to ensure asthma care meets current standards of best practice. The impact of the Pharmacy Asthma Care Program (PACP) on asthma control was assessed using a multi-site randomised intervention versus control repeated measures study design.

Risk factors for intensive care in children with acute asthma.

Objective: A retrospective case-control study at Monash Medical Centre (MMC), a tertiary referral hospital in Melbourne, Australia, was conducted to identify risk factors associated with very severe asthma in paediatric patients.

Methodology: Asthmatics admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU; n=52) were identified and considered to represent cases of very severe/near fatal asthma (NFA group). This group was compared to asthmatics who had been admitted on one occasion only to the emergency department at MMC (non-NFA controls, n=53).