Evidence map›Paper›PMID 12076400›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2002

Limited (information only) patient education programs for adults with asthma.

P G Gibson, H Powell, J Coughlan, A J Wilson, M J Hensley, M Abramson, A Bauman, E H Walters

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2002. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 51 papers, 15 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
51citing papers in PubMed, 15 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

51 citing papers in PubMed, 15 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Information provision for stroke survivors and their carers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
    Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Chronic disease management programmes for adults with asthma.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015
    Pooled it
  7. Patient education for preventing diabetic foot ulceration.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014
    Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Smartphone and tablet self management apps for asthma.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013
    Pooled it
  10. Psychosocial factors and behavioral medicine interventions in asthma.Journal of consulting and clinical psychology · 2013
    Pooled it
  11. Nurse versus physician-led care for the management of asthma.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013
    Pooled it
  12. Pooled it
  13. Pooled it
  14. Pooled it
  15. Psychological interventions for adults with asthma.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2006
    Pooled it
  16. Trial
  17. Trial
  18. Trial
  19. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

P G GibsonDepartment of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Locked Bag 1, Hunter Mail Centre, NSW, Australia, 2310. mdpgg@mail.newcastle.edu.au
H Powell
J Coughlan
A J Wilson
M J Hensley
M Abramson
A Bauman
E H Walters

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA key component of many asthma management guidelines is the recommendation for patient education and regular medical review. A number of controlled trials have been conducted to measure the effectiveness of asthma education programmes. These programmes improve patient knowledge, but their impact on health outcomes is less well established. At its simplest level, education is limited to the transfer of information about asthma, its causes and its treatment. This review focused on the effects of limited asthma education.

objectivesThe objective of this review was to assess the effects of limited (i.e. information only) asthma education on health outcomes in adults with asthma. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group trials register and reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and controlled trials of individual asthma education involving information transfer only in adults over 16 years of age. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Trial quality was assessed and two reviewers extracted data independently. Study authors were contacted for missing information. MAIN

resultsTwelve trials were included. They were of variable quality. Limited asthma education did not reduce hospitalisation for asthma (weighted mean difference -0.03 average hospitalisations per person per year, 95% confidence interval -0.09 to 0.03). There was no significant effect on doctor visits, lung function and medication use. The effects on asthma symptoms were variable. There was no reduction in days lost from normal activity, but in two studies, perceived asthma symptoms did improve after limited asthma education (odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.26 to 0.74). In one study, limited asthma education was associated with reduced emergency department visits (reduction of -2.76 average visits per person per year, 95% confidence interval -4.34 to 1.18). REVIEWER'S

conclusionsUse of limited asthma education as it has been practiced does not appear to improve health outcomes in adults with asthma although perceived symptoms may improve. Provision of information in the emergency department may be effective, but this needs to be confirmed.

Indexed as

Patient Education as TopicAdultAsthmaHumansTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID12076400
PMCPMC8407426

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.