Parent-initiated oral corticosteroid therapy for acute asthma: a survey of current practice

<b>Aim</b>: To determine (i) the proportion of doctors who recommend parent-initiated oral corticosteroids (PIOCS) for acute asthma; and (ii) the proportion of parents who have received this advice.<br /><br /><b>Methods</b>: (i) An internet-based survey of doctors involved in the care of children with asthma; and (ii) a questionnaire-based survey of parents of children aged 4–13 years who were identified from a random sample of primary schools within the Barwon region of Victoria.<br /><br /><b>Results</b>: Eight-five per cent (95% confidence interval 80.0–89.1%) of responding doctors reported recommending PIOCS to parents of children with asthma. However, only 16.5% (95% confidence interval 14.2–18.7%) of parents of children with recent asthma symptoms report that they have received such advice.<br /><br /><b>Conclusion</b>: The majority of responding doctors involved in the care of children with asthma report recommending PIOCS to parents. By contrast, a minority of parents of children with asthma report that they have received such advice.<br />