Home recording of peak expiratory flow rates and perception of asthma
P. D. Sly, L. I. Landau and R. Weymouth
Fourteen asthmatic children, aged 7.9 to 18.0 years (mean, 11.3 years),
recorded peak expiratory flow rates three times a day at home for four
weeks in an attempt to improve perception of their airway obstruction.
Pulmonary function tests were performed and a subjective severity score was
recorded before and after this period. The accuracy of the parents'
perceptions of their child's airway obstruction was also assessed. These
children were unable to accurately predict their degree of airway
obstruction, and no improvement in prediction was seen following the
learning period. Parents' perceptions of the child's airway obstruction
were also inaccurate. Recording of peak expiratory flow rate at home did
not improve the child's perception of his asthma. Rational management of
troublesome asthma requires the use of an inexpensive peak flowmeter to
provide continual objective measurements of lung function.
