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The Effect of a Peak Flow-Based Action Plan in the Prevention of Exacerbations of Asthma
Robert L. Cowie, Shirley G. Revitt, Margot F. Underwood and Stephen K. Field Chest 1997;112;1534-1538 DOI 10.1378/chest.112.6.1534 The online version of this article, along with updated information and services can be found online on the World Wide Web at: http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/112/6/1534

Chest is the official journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. It has been published monthly since 1935. Copyright1997by the American College of Chest Physicians, 3300 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. All rights reserved. No part of this article or PDF may be reproduced or distributed without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. (http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/site/misc/reprints.xhtml) ISSN:0012-3692

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The Effect of a Peak Flow-Based Action Plan in the Prevention of Exacerbations of Asthma*
Robert L. Cowie, MD, MSc; and Stephen K. Field, MD

Shirley G. Revitt, RN; Margot F. Underwood, RN;

Study objective: To determine the effect of a symptom-based and a peak flow-based action plan preventing acute exacerbations in subjects with poorly controlled asthma. Design: A randomized controlled trial in which subjects who had required urgent treatment for their asthma were allocated to receive no action plan, a symptom-based plan, or a peak flow-based action plan. Setting: A university hospital asthma clinic. Population: One hundred fifty subjects were recruited after attending an emergency department or a clinic for urgent treatment of asthma. Interventions: All subjects received evaluation and education for asthma before being randomly allocated to receive no action plan, a symptom-based action plan, or a peak flowmeter and a peak flow-based action plan. Measurements: Subjects were assessed by questionnaire at 3 and