PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - JG Ayres
AU  - LM Campbell
TI  - A controlled assessment of an asthma self-management plan involving a budesonide dose regimen. OPTIONS Research Group
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.96.09050886
DP  - 1996 May 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 886--892
VI  - 9
IP  - 5
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/9/5/886.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/9/5/886.full
SO  - Eur Respir J1996 May 01; 9
AB  - Our aim was to assess the efficacy of budesonide (Pulmicort Turbohaler Astra) used as part of a self-management plan in a group of patients with chronic asthma. One hundred and twenty five patients with nocturnal asthma symptoms, despite the use of inhaled prophylactic and beta 2-agonist therapy, were randomized to inhaled budesonide 200, 400 or 800 micrograms b.i.d. either with dose adjustments made by the physician, i.e. doctor-managed (DM; n = 64), or as part of a self-management plan (SM; n = 61). The SM group were allowed to adjust their dose according to written guidelines based on morning peak flow. At the end of the 6 month treatment period, there were no significant differences detected between the DM and the SM groups either from the clinic or diary card data. Both groups demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of sleep-disturbed nights, by 75% in the DM group and 77% in the SM group, at the end of the study. In conclusion, for patients with mild-to-moderate asthma, either a doctor-adjusted dose regimen or a peak flow based self-management plan involving budesonide is equally efficacious. For some patients, a simple regimen, adjusted by the physician at clinic visits, may be easier to follow.