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Abstract: Background: In spite of some evidence for positive effects of patient's education to asthma self‐management by randomized clinical trials, there are few studies on the impact of patient’ s educational programs in the real world. We aimed to assess the impact of a diagnostic therapeutic educational pathway (DTEP) on asthma control of children and adolescents by comparing frequency of outcomes indicative of asthma control before and after attending the pathway. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including all patients aged 6‐11 and 12‐17 years who attended the DTEP in 2007‐2014. The DTEP includes 3 specialist's evaluations at 8‐ to 12‐week intervals and two follow‐up visits. Patients and their parents receive an educational course concerning prevention measures, early recognition of symptoms, and appropriate use of drugs and devices. The rates of hospitalizations, outpatient services, emergency room visits, and drug prescriptions were considered as outcomes and computed as number of events divided by person‐time. Results: A total of 806 patients were enrolled. A statistically significant decrease in rates from before to after DTEP was observed for almost all outcomes, in both age groups, with relative risks ranging from 0.12 to 0.60. The rates of drug prescription showed a statistically significant decrease, from before to after DTEP, for each type of medicine for asthma, in both age groups, from percent difference of −66% to −24.3%. Conclusions: The positive impact of this program on the outcomes indicative of asthma control in both children and adolescents suggests that it may be valuable for asthma management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To implement GINA guidelines and to assess their impact on the management of childhood asthma. Methods: A working group of primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists developed a GINA-based clinical pathway. We then monitored the impact on 385 children (aged 0-15 years) referred to the respiratory outpatients clinic at the University Children's Hospital, Brescia, Italy by 179 PCPs between September 2003 and July 2005. Results: Mean follow-up for 264 children with complete datasets was 10 months. Guidelines were followed by 94.6% of the PCPs. 98.6% of children learned to manage exacerbations. Half of the patients with persistent symptoms became intermittently symptomatic. Maintenance treatment was suspended in 47.2%, reduced in 27.6%, and increased in 4.9%. Asthma severity diminished (p<0.0001) and requirement for medication for exacerbations was significantly reduced (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Regular specialist visits, a website, and a written management plan shared by all those involved, led to clinical improvements as well as a reduction in, and more efficient use of, asthma medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]