A Randomized Trial to Increase Outpatient Asthma Referrals Upon Pediatric Emergency Department Discharge.
Amy M DeLaroche, Priya Spencer, Alexander Wind et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This prospective randomized controlled trial assessed whether the Pediatric Asthma Control and Communication Instrument for the Emergency Department (PACCI-ED) increased outpatient asthma referrals after emergency department visits for acute exacerbations. Parents of children aged 5 to 11 years completed the instrument; intervention providers also received its results and referral recommendations before discharge. Among 36 intervention and 32 control patients, referrals were more frequent with the PACCI-ED: 63.9% versus 6.3% (P <0.0001). Referrals were more often made for children with uncontrolled asthma, and most were directed to subspecialty clinics or community asthma programs.
Key findings
- Discharge referrals occurred in 63.9% of intervention patients versus 6.3% of controls (P <0.0001).
- Referrals were more frequently provided to patients with uncontrolled asthma (n = 18) than to those with controlled asthma (n = 7).
- Most referrals went to a subspecialty clinic (28.0%) or a community asthma program (68.0%).
Why it matters
Many children seen in the emergency department for an asthma exacerbation may need follow-up for ongoing asthma control. These findings suggest that a structured assessment paired with referral guidance can substantially increase connections to outpatient care at discharge, particularly for children with uncontrolled asthma.
What to keep in mind
The analysis included 68 patients, and the abstract reports referral outcomes rather than whether referrals led to completed follow-up or improved asthma control.