Asthma action plans (AAPs) are recommended for asthma self-management. Our purpose was to determine if the use of AAP impacts on asthma outcome measures.

This study is part of an investigation of nebulizer use in inner city, minority children ages (2-8 yrs). Data were collected from primary caregivers interviews about their use of AAC as well as PO steroids, hospitalizations, ED visits and controller medication use. Caregiver quality of life (QOL) was assessed using Juniper scale. Caregivers of 221 asthmatic children were recruited from sub-specialty clinics, emergency department, inpatient floors and community care sites.

There were no differences in age or asthma severity among subjects with AAP (n=85) and without AAP (n=136). Subjects with AAPs reported more courses of PO steroids within the last year (3.54, range, 0-33) compared to those without AAP (mean 2.39, range 0-12, p=0.02) and fewer hospitalizations (0.19, range 0-3) than those without AAP (0.49, range 0-5, p=0.002). ED visits for subjects with AAPs averaged 1.75 visits within last 6 months (range 0-20) compared to 2.08 for those with no AAP (range 0-20, p=0.39). Controller medication use was reported in 84.7% of subjects with AAP and 76.4% of subjects without AAP (p=0.14). Subjects with AAPs had higher Mean QOL of scores (5.25, range 2.0-7.0) compared to those without AAP (4.59, range 1.31-7.0, p=0.001).

Caregivers of subjects with AAPs report improved QOL scores, more PO steroid use and fewer admissions than those without AAPs. AAP use did not impact significantly on ED visits or controller medication use.