Nurses' Role in the Control and Treatment of Asthma in Adults: A Systematic Literature Review.

Bronchial asthma is a chronic pathology and a global public health problem. However, asthma can be controlled and treated for the most part by patients, so the Portuguese General Directorate of Health recommends shared medical appointments in primary health care (PHC). The present study aims to identify the role of PHC nurses in the control and treatment of asthma in adults. Using the MeSH platform, the following descriptors were validated: asthma, nurses, adults. An individual search was carried out in the following databases: CINAHL (ESBSCO host), MEDLINE (Pubmed host), Web of Science, and Scopus. Out of a total of 280 publications, 79 of which were duplicates and 185 publications which did not meet the inclusion criteria, 16 publications remained readable. Of the eligible articles, there were 13 specialist reports, one mixed study, one quasi-experimental study, and one randomized trial. Education was the intervention most identified in the scientific evidence analyzed, and patient assessment, application of an asthma control questionnaire, verification and training of inhalation technique, empowerment for self-management of the disease, support, promotion of seasonal influenza vaccination, and use of written action plans were also identified. The results reveal that, although the scientific evidence on the intervention of these professionals is poorly developed, nurses play a crucial role in the control and treatment of asthma. The scientific evidence analyzed allowed the identification of interventions that can help the organization of a nursing health appointment, providing nurses with a crucial role in the control and treatment of asthma in adults in the context of PHC.

New Combination Asthma Drug.

A new asthma drug, Airsupra, combines the short-acting ß2-adrenergic agonist albuterol with the corticosteroid budesonide to treat acute asthma attacks.Patients should not stop their asthma maintenance therapy when albuterol-budesonide is prescribed.

Avaliação do conhecimento sobre a asma em servidores técnico-administrativos de uma universidade pública / Evaluación del conocimiento sobre el asma en servidores técnico-administrativos de una universidad pública / Evaluation of knowledge about asthma in technical-administrative public workers of a public university

Objetivo: estimar o nível de conhecimento sobre asma de servidores técnico-administrativos do curso de graduação e pós-graduação em Enfermagem de uma universidade pública em Salvador, Bahia. Método: estudo transversal, realizado com 18 servidores técnico-administrativos de uma universidade pública. A coleta de dados foi realizada mediante envio de e-mail com links do formulário no Google Forms, entre janeiro e maio de 2021. Os dados foram analisados por meio da estatística descritiva com uso do software SPSS, 28.0. Resultados: encontrou-se predominância do sexo feminino 77,8% (n=14), média de idade 42,11±10,98 anos. Verificou-se que 55,6% (n=10) da amostra apresentou conhecimento insatisfatório sobre asma na análise por domínio e pela média de acertos (X±DP=22,6±7,5 acertos). O tratamento da asma foi a temática mais desconhecida pela amostra (X±DP=2,77±1,73 acertos). Conclusão: o nível de conhecimento sobre asma dos servidores técnico-administrativos foi insatisfatório na maioria da amostra investigada.

Objetivo: estimar el nivel de conocimiento sobre asma de servidores técnico-administrativos del curso de graduación y posgrado en Enfermería de una universidad pública en Salvador, Bahía. Método: estudio transversal, realizado con 18 servidores técnico-administrativos de una universidad pública. La recopilación de datos se realizó mediante el envío de correos electrónicos con links del formulario en Google Forms, entre enero y mayo de 2021. Los datos fueron analizados por medio de la estadística descriptiva con uso del software SPSS, 28.0. Resultados: se encontró predominancia del sexo femenino 77,8% (n=14), media de edad 42,11±10,98 años. Se verificó que 55,6% (n=10) de la muestra presentó conocimiento insatisfactorio sobre asma en el análisis por dominio y por la media de aciertos (X±DE=22,6±7,5 aciertos). El tratamiento del asma fue la temática más desconocida por la muestra (X±DE=2,77±1,73 aciertos). Consideraciones finales: el nivel de conocimiento sobre asma de los servidores técnico-administrativos fue insatisfactorio en la mayoría de la muestra investigada.

Objective: to estimate the level of knowledge about asthma of technical-administrative public workers of graduate and postgraduate nursing courses of a public university in Salvador, Bahia. Method: cross-sectional study, conducted with 18 technical-administrative public workers of a public university. Data collection was performed by sending an email with links to the form in Google Forms, between January and May 2021. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics using SPSS software, 28.0. Results: predominance of women, 77.8% (n=14), mean age 42.11±10.98 years. 55.6% (n=10) of the sample presented unsatisfactory knowledge about asthma in the analysis by domain and by the average of correct answers (X±SD=22.6±7.5 correct answers). Asthma treatment was the most unknown theme in the sample (X±SD=2.77±1.73 correct answers). Final considerations: the level of knowledge about asthma of technical-administrative workers was unsatisfactory in the majority of the sample investigated.

Cuidados de enfermería en paciente con crisis asmática utilizando el modelo de Virginia Henderson / Nursing care in patients with asthmatic crisis using the Virginia Henderson model

La incidencia del asma varía extensamente en diversas regiones del mundo, se tiene un estimado de que 334 millones de personas padecen de asma bronquial y que 250,000 muertes son producto de una complicación de esta enfermedad. En este caso clínico se implementaron las intervenciones por parte de los profesionales de enfermería aplicando el proceso de atención de enfermería (PAE) orientado en la teoría de Virginia Henderson la cual se basa en las necesidades de las personas sanas y enfermas ya sea en la familia, comunidad, ya que estas necesidades son la bases que orientan las cinco fases del cuidado: valoración, diagnóstico, planificación, ejecución y evaluación, cada una se implementó en paciente. El objetivo principal es: mejorar la salud del paciente utilizando la teoría de Virginia Henderson, e implementando su respectivo tratamiento y cuidados de enfermería, para que su respiración sea estable y su saturación sea de un 100%. Se presenta caso de paciente masculino de 22 años de edad con educación universitaria en curso, vive con su madre y hermana, con una economía adecuada y con las necesidades básicas cubiertas. Causa de la consulta dificultad respiratoria, presencia de dolor torácico acompañada de tos sin esputo, Se diagnostica paciente con una crisis moderada de asma bronquial, teniendo en cuenta que tiene antecedentes de asma bronquial, se le dió manejo con administración de oxígeno para mantener la saturación, incluyendo el tratamiento y cuidados de enfermería adecuado y oportuno los cuales mejoraran la salud del paciente dando una recuperación ideal...(AU)

Examining Social Determinants of Health in Childhood Asthma Management.

PURPOSE: Social determinants of health (SDoHs) influence how well a family manages children's asthma. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of SDoHs on family asthma management. DESIGN: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted with 292 children in grades 2 to 5 who had current asthma and their parents to examine associations between SDoHs and the families' asthma management, quality of life, and healthcare utilization. METHODS: Data were collected from both child and parent. Social determinants of health include the child's race/ethnic group, age, gender, and asthma severity and the family's socioeconomic status and language spoken in the home, and the school was the community-level variable. Parents and children completed asthma management and quality-of-life scales and parents reported on the children's emergency department visits and hospitalizations for asthma. RESULTS: Worse quality of life was reported by families with lower socioeconomic status and African American children. Asthma severity was associated with parents' asthma management but not children's asthma self-management. Families who spoke Spanish at home had the lowest socioeconomic status yet performed significantly more asthma management than English-speaking families. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight factors the clinical nurse specialist should address in educational interventions.

Improving asthma care with Asthma-COPD Afterhours Respiratory Nurse at Emergency (A-CARE).

BACKGROUND: Emergency departments (ED) are important providers of asthma care, particularly after-hours. We identified gaps for quality improvement such as suboptimal adherence rates to three key recommendations from the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines for discharge management asthma guidelines. These were: the prescription of oral and inhaled corticosteroids (OCS and ICS) and issuance of outpatient follow-up for patients discharged from the ED. AIM: To achieve an adherence rate of 80% to GINA guidelines for ED discharge management by providing after-hours asthma counselling services. METHODS: We implemented Asthma-COPD Afterhours Respiratory Nurse at Emergency (A-CARE) according to the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to provide after-hours asthma counselling and clinical decision support to ED physicians three nights a week. Data on adherence rates to the GINA guidelines were collected and analysed on a run chart. RESULTS: After 17 months' follow-up, a sustained improvement was observed in patients reviewed by A-CARE in the median adherence rates to OCS prescription (58% vs 86%), ICS initiation (27% vs 67%) and issuance of follow-up (69% vs 92%), respectively. The overall impact was, however, limited by a suboptimal referral rate to A-CARE (16%) in a clinical audit of all ED patients with asthma. Nonetheless, in this audit, attendance rates for patients referred to our respiratory department for follow-up were higher in those receiving asthma counselling compared with those who did not (41.7% vs 15.9%, p=0.0388). CONCLUSION: Sustained improvements in the adherence rates to guidelines were achieved for patients reviewed by A-CARE but were limited in overall impact due to suboptimal referral rate. We plan to improve the quality of asthma care by implementing further PDSA cycles to increase the referral rates to A-CARE.

Evaluating outcomes of children's asthma self-management education through sustainable community-university partnerships.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of a children's asthma management education program delivered through a community-university partnership. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental pretest/posttest. SAMPLE: Convenience sample of 50 children with asthma, grades 2-5, and their parent/caregiver from nine elementary schools in New York State. MEASUREMENTS: Child Asthma Management Self-Efficacy Survey, Child Asthma Control Test© , Parent Asthma Knowledge Test. INTERVENTION: Nursing students certified as Open Airways for Schools facilitators administered the program once weekly for 5 weeks. Parent handouts were sent home after each session. Pre/posttests for all measures were completed prior to Open Airways and at completion. RESULTS: Improved asthma management self-efficacy (p < .001) and improved asthma control (p = .013) for children with asthma were noted. Parent asthma knowledge was high pre- and posttest with no significant change. Parental knowledge regarding inhaled corticosteroids was consistently low. CONCLUSIONS: Collaboration between universities and local school systems allows for mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources to address the need for asthma self-management for children with asthma. Nursing students trained in asthma management develop expertise and provide sustainable resources for this education.

Examining the clinical management of asthma exacerbations by nurse practitioners in a pediatric emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the clinical management or quality of asthma care provided by nurse practitioners (NP) in a pediatric emergency setting. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical management of asthma by NPs in our institution's emergency department, and to compare the treatment strategies between NPs, pediatricians, and pediatric emergency physicians. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review at a level-one pediatric trauma center. Data were extracted from electronic medical records for all patients between 2 and 18 years of age presenting to the emergency department with an asthma exacerbation. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: NPs evaluated 18% of all children presenting for asthma care. When compared to pediatric emergency physicians, patients treated by NPs had approximately twice the odds of receiving a ß2-agonist (OR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.02 - 3.99) or a systemic corticosteroid (OR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.35 - 3.95) within 60 minutes of clinical evaluation. Adherence rates were similar for the other asthma quality measures between these two clinician groups. CONCLUSIONS: NPs were best able to meet time-sensitive asthma quality measures in the emergency department. The addition of NPs to emergency staffing models may improve access to timely care for children with asthma.

Clinical and lung function outcomes in a cohort of children with severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: Uncontrolled severe asthma in children is burdensome and challenging to manage. This study aims to describe outcomes in children with uncontrolled severe asthma managed in a nurse-led severe asthma clinic (SAC). METHODS: This retrospective analysis uses data collected from children referred by a paediatric respiratory specialist to a nurse-led SAC for uncontrolled severe asthma between 2014 and 2019. The pre-clinical assessments included a home visit to assess modifiable factors that could be addressed to improve control. A comprehensive lung function analysis was conducted at each visit. Interventions were personalised and included biologic agents. Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric, two-tailed Mann-Whitney U-test, the parametric Student's t-test, or analysis of variance (ANOVA) as appropriate. RESULTS: Twenty-three children with a median age of 12 years were seen once, and 16 were followed up. Compared to a non-asthmatic (NA) and asthmatic (A) age-matched cohort, children with severe asthma (SA) had a lower FEV1, and FVC% predicted before and after bronchodilator inhalation, and a higher mean Lung Clearance Index [LCI] (10.5 [SA] versus 7.3 [NA] versus 7.6 [A], p = 0.003). Almost 80% of children with SA had an abnormal LCI, and 48% had a reduced FEV1% at the first SAC visit. Asthma control and FEV1% predicted significantly improved at a follow-up visit, while LCI remained abnormal in the majority of children (83%). CONCLUSION: Over time, many children with severe asthma showed improved clinical outcomes and lung function while lung ventilation inhomogeneities persisted. Future appropriately controlled studies are required to determine if a nurse-led multidisciplinary SAC is associated with better outcomes.

Moving Upstream From the Individual to the Community: Addressing Social Determinants of Health.

School nurses are often the primary health professional promoting children's health-and address not just individuals, but communities. This article, featuring the key principle of community/public health, is the first in a series focusing on The Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™ and presents a case study on asthma and air quality issues comparing the more traditional individual approaches to health (labeled downstream and midstream) with population-level approaches (labeled upstream). Through collaboration with key community stakeholders, school nurses can successfully implement policies and programs to address social determinants of health and, in turn, improve the health of the entire community. As we look to advance school nursing and support best practices, concentrating on population-level, upstream approaches align with recommendations outlined in the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™.

A randomized controlled trial of a nurse-led education pathway for asthmatic children from outpatient to home.

BACKGROUND: Education for asthmatic children in the outpatient department is insufficient. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a nurse-led education pathway, a standard education programme, on children with asthma. METHODS: One hundred and eighty participants enrolled and were randomly assigned to either the control group or the intervention group. The intervention group received predetermined step-by-step education sessions based on the self-designed education pathway, while the control group received usual care. Asthma control, health-related quality of life, and health-care utilization measures were taken at baseline and at follow-up visits between February 2016 and May 2018. RESULTS: Significantly higher scores for health-related quality of life and inhaler technique at the third-month visit and asthma control test at the sixth-month visit were seen in the intervention group. The numbers of unscheduled physician visits and school absences were lower in the intervention group than in the control group within 6 months. However, no significant differences were observed in emergency department visits and hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: The nurse-led education pathway could be considered effective for children with asthma visiting the outpatient department.

School Nurses and Student Academic Outcomes: An Integrative Review.

The empirical evidence from previous studies has demonstrated that school nurses are effective in assisting children and families to address health concerns, reduce absenteeism, and provide children with the opportunity to reach their potential academically. Impoverished children and those with disabilities and chronic illness are at risk of school failure. An integrative review was undertaken to critique the research between 2002 and 2018 that addressed the influence of school nurses on academic outcomes such as absenteeism, missed class time, grades, and test scores. The findings of the review suggest that the presence of a school nurse is associated with reduced absenteeism and missed class time but not with academic achievement. Overall, the research in this area is weak and future research using more rigorous study designs, examining broader school nurse roles, and long-term academic outcomes is indicated to evaluate the impact of school nurses on educational outcomes.

A School Nurse-Led Asthma Program Reduces Absences: Evaluation of Easy Breathing for Schools.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether school nurses can assist pediatricians in providing asthma care and reduce school absenteeism through a program called Easy Breathing for Schools (EzBfS), a 5-element school nurse-led asthma management program and the effectiveness in reducing school absenteeism. METHODS: Fifteen public school nurses in an urban community implemented EzBfS during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years. Program elements included assessment of asthma risk and asthma control, asthma education, medication review, and a pediatrician communication tool. School absence for any reason was the primary outcome; absentee rates for students with asthma enrolled in the program were compared to students with asthma in the entire school population using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: School nurses enrolled 251/2,126 students with physician-confirmed asthma (2015-16: n = 114 and 2016-17: n = 137). Sixty eight percent of participants were Latino and 25% were Black with a mean age of 8.7 ± 2.2 years. Absentee rates were higher in children with asthma compared to children without asthma (8.3% vs 7.0% absent, respectively P < .001). Students enrolled in the program experienced a 25% decrease in absentee rate after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and school year (rate ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval, 0.67, 0.85) as compared to students with asthma not enrolled in the program. Participants also demonstrated improvement in inhaler technique score (P < .001). Ninety two percent of the nurses were satisfied with the program. CONCLUSION: EzBfS, a pragmatic, nurse-led asthma management program, was successfully implemented by school nurses and significantly decreased school absences among a sample of students with asthma.

Explanatory Model for Asthma Disparities in Latino Children: Results from the Latino Childhood Asthma Project.

BACKGROUND: Little research has been conducted that integrates, in one explanatory model, the multitude of factors potentially leading to disparities among Latino children. PURPOSE: A longitudinal, observational study tested an explanatory model for disparities in asthma control between Mexican and Puerto Rican children with persistent asthma requiring daily controller medication use. METHODS: Mexican and Puerto Rican children aged 5-12 years (n = 267) and their caregivers (n = 267) were enrolled and completed interviews and child spirometry at baseline and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postenrollment. A 12 month retrospective children's medical record review was completed. Participants were recruited from two school-based health clinics and the Breathmobile in Phoenix, AZ, and two inner-city hospital asthma clinics in the Bronx, NY. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in the social/contextual predictors of asthma illness representations (IRs) were noted between Mexican and Puerto Rican caregivers. The structural equation model results revealed differences in asthma control over time by ethnicity. This model accounted for 40%-48% of the variance in asthma control test scores over 12 months. Caregivers' IRs aligned with the professional model of asthma management were associated with better children's asthma control across 1 year. These results also supported the theoretical notion that IRs change over time impacting caregivers' treatment decisions and children's asthma control. CONCLUSIONS: These findings extend a previous cross-sectional model test using a more comprehensive model and longitudinal data and highlight the importance of considering within-group differences for diagnosis and treatment of children coming from the vastly heterogeneous Latino umbrella group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial number NCT01099800.

Association between family management and asthma control in children with asthma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between family management and asthma control in children with asthma. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited 142 children with asthma and their parents. We used the Family Management Measure (FaMM), the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) detectors to assess family management and asthma control. The McNemar's test was used to determine the proportional difference between C-ACT and FeNO in evaluating asthma control. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between family management and asthma control in children with asthma. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the proportion of C-ACT and FeNO in evaluating asthma control (McNemar's test p = .593). Child's Daily Life, Condition Management Ability, and Parental Mutuality were positively correlated with C-ACT (r = 0.398 to 0.655; all p < .05) and negatively correlated with FeNO (r = -0.245 to -0.402; all p < .05); Condition Management Effort, Family Life Difficulty, and View of Condition Impact were negatively correlated with C-ACT (r = -0.416 to -0.672; all p < .05) and positively with FeNO (r = 0.248 to 0.427; all p < 0.05). Child's Daily Life, Condition Management Effort, and View of Condition Impact dimensions significantly predicted the C-ACT results, and the Condition Management Effort and View of Condition Impact dimensions significantly predicted the FeNO results (p < .05). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Pediatric nurses could provide family management education for parents to improve asthma control in children. In addition, pediatric nurses might assess asthma control condition of asthmatic children in combination with C-ACT and FeNO levels.

The modification of three vulnerability theories to assist nursing practice for school-age children with severe asthma.

PURPOSE: Severe asthma is an inflammatory illness associated with adverse health outcomes and behaviors in children, such as decreased quality of life, impaired sleep, and increased medical costs and morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Children with severe asthma frequently exhibit a cycle of health and behaviors which contribute to these adverse health outcomes, consisting of decreased physical activity, increased stress, and increased airway inflammation and asthma exacerbations. School-age children, in particular, are a vulnerable population because they not only rely on others for their care but also suffer from a chronic illness and are at risk for unequal healthcare access and health outcomes. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Currently, there is no one nursing theory that adequately addresses the vulnerability, cycle of health and behaviors, and adverse health outcomes of children with severe asthma. By integrating key concepts from three vulnerability theories and presenting a modified conceptual framework, this paper aims to demonstrate how the use of this new conceptual framework may assist nurses in evaluating the unique needs of school-age children with severe asthma to provide best practices and develop appropriate interventions.

Protocolled practice nurse-led care for children with asthma in primary care: protocol for a cluster randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: In children with asthma, daily symptoms and exacerbations have a significant impact on the quality of life of both children and parents. More effective use of asthma medication and, consequently, better asthma control is advocated, since both overtreatment and undertreatment are reported in primary care. Trials in adults suggest that asthma control is better when patients receive a regular medical review. Therefore, protocolled care by the general practitioner may also lead to better asthma control in children. However, such protocolled care by the general practitioner may be time consuming and less feasible. Therefore, this study aims to determine whether protocolled practice nurse-led asthma care for children in primary care provides more effective asthma control than usual care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study will be a cluster-randomised open-label trial with an 18-month follow-up. Practice nurses will be the units of randomisation and children with asthma the units of analysis. It is planned to include 180 children aged 6-12 years. Primary outcome will be average asthma control during the 18-month follow-up measured by the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT). Secondary outcomes include C-ACT scores at t=3, t=6, t=12 and t=18 months; the frequency and severity of exacerbations; cost-effectiveness; quality of life; satisfaction with delivered care; forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced expiratory flow at 75% and the association of high symptoms scores at baseline and baseline characteristics. Besides, we will conduct identical measurements in a non-randomised sample of children. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This will be the first trial to evaluate the effectiveness of protocolled practice nurse-led care for children with asthma in primary care. The results may lead to improvements in asthma care for children and can be directly implemented in revisions of asthma guidelines.The study protocol was approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR6847.

Effective management of adult patients with asthma.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that can affect people of all ages. Globally, asthma is one of the most common non-communicable diseases and is associated with significant personal, financial and societal costs. In some cases, asthma can be fatal, although many fatalities would have been preventable with appropriate management. People with asthma often underestimate the effects of their symptoms, and nurses should develop their knowledge and skills so that they can provide appropriate management advice. This article outlines the causes of asthma and its symptoms. It also explains the interventions used in the management of this condition, including medicines, patient education, appropriate lifestyle changes and referral to specialist services.

Effects of maintaining web-based diaries by caregivers on adherence to care regimens in preschoolers with asthma.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this pilot study was to assess the effects of maintaining web-based diaries by the caregivers of preschoolers with asthma on the adherence to asthma care regimens, the recognition of asthma symptoms, and their perceived levels of parenting stress, quality of life, and family functioning. DESIGN AND METHODS: The caregivers of preschoolers with asthma completed a 4-week web-based diary and received weekly emails that depicted their children's asthma symptoms. We compared asthma symptoms from before and after the intervention. We analyzed demographic data, such as the caregivers' age and education, and assessment scores from the Japanese Pediatric Asthma Control program (JPAC), Adherence with Asthma Management for Caregivers of Preschoolers (AAMCP), General Functioning subscale of the Family Assessment Device (GF-FAD), Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI-SF), and Quality of Life assessment scale for Caregivers of Asthmatic Children 24 (QOLCA-24). RESULTS: A total of 45 participants were included in the analyses. The mean scores depicting asthma control were significantly improved postintervention (pre: 12.29 ± 2.65; post: 13.02 ± 2.01; t = -2.15, p = .037). Mean AAMCP scores postintervention (52.13 ± 6.25) were significantly greater than before (49.78 ± 7.20; t = -3.07; p = .004). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Adherence to asthma care and the recognition of asthma symptoms improved following the use of a web-based diary, making it a potential cost-effective intervention for asthma patients and their families.