Do Patients of Subspecialist Physicians Benefit from Written Asthma Action Plans?

Rationale: Asthma clinical guidelines suggest written asthma action plans are essential for improving self-management and outcomes.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of written instructions in the form of a written asthma action plan provided by subspecialist physicians as part of usual asthma care during office visits.

Methods: A total of 407 children and adults with persistent asthma receiving first-time care in pulmonary and allergy practices at 4 urban medical centers were randomized to receive either written instructions (n = 204) or no written instructions other than prescriptions (n = 203) from physicians.

Massive pulmonary embolism in children.

We present 3 children with massive pulmonary embolism and review 17 recent pediatric reports. Malignancies were a frequent cause (40%), and sudden death was common (60%). Compared with adults, diagnosis was more likely to be made at autopsy (P < .

A retrospective cohort study of pulmonary function, radiographic measures, and quality of life in children with congenital scoliosis: an evaluation of patient outcomes after early spinal fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate pulmonary function and quality of life (QOL) in children treated with early spinal fusion for progressive congenital scoliosis.

Summary Of Background Data: The relationships between radiographic measures, pulmonary function tests (PFT), and QOL were examined.