Quality of care in the management of asthmatic children with regard to compliance with the guidelines in in-ward setting in a district of Sri Lanka: a descriptive study

Introduction: The quality of paediatric asthma management in the in-ward settings has not been assessed in Sri Lanka.

Objectives: To describe the quality of care in the management of asthmatic children with regard to compliance with the guidelines

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in state hospitals with paediatric units in a district of Sri Lanka. A sample of 577 children diagnosed by a consultant paediatrician was selected. Eleven indicators were chosen by modified Delphi technique. Data collection instruments were an interviewer-administered questionnaire and a record sheet. Compliance with guidelines according to 11 indicators was expressed in percentages.

Results: The assessment of acute severity was 100%. The use of systemic corticosteroid at first prescription was 88.9% (n=513), whereas it was 69% (n=398) with oral steroid therapy and 54.5% (n=315) with long-term use of steroid inhaler. Assessment of chronic asthma severity was 31.2% (n=180). Caregivers who had received health education on triggering factors of asthma, on what to do during an asthma attack, and how to use the inhaler were 62.0% (n=358), 37.1% (214) and 68.8% (n=217), respectively. All patients have been issued a diagnosis card on discharge and among them, 74.4% (n=429)received a complete discharge summary and 90.6% (n=523) were scheduled for follow up appointments.

Conclusions: Assessment of acute severity of asthma and the provision of diagnosis card on discharge were exceptional. Assessment of the severity of chronic asthma and providing health education for caregivers should be improved. Prescribing long term use of a steroid inhaler is to be revised.