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Biomedical subjects

Minna Kaila

Publications and source records attributed to Minna Kaila.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Asthma programme in Finland: comparison of adult asthma referral letters in 1994 and 2001.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of asthma-related referral letters at the launch of the Asthma Programme in 1994 and 7 years later in 2001. METHODS: All referrals during 1 year (n=1121 in 1994, n=1136 in 2001) to one pulmonary department were screened in 2001. By the same inclusion criteria of asthma or suspicion of asthma, 624 letters (56% of all) from the year 1994 and 452 (40% of all) from the year 2001 were selected. The quality of study letters was assessed against the previously developed asthma referral letter criteria. Comparison of the referral letter quality in 1994 and 2001 was made. RESULTS: The proportion of poor letters decreased from 63% in 1994 to 44% in 2001, while that of good letters increased from 7% to 22%. Graphics of peak flow follow-up measurements (14% vs. 40%) and spirometry with bronchodilatation test (5% vs. 32%) were included significantly more often as an attachment. CONCLUSION: Lung functions are being measured more often in primary care, indication a more active detection of asthma. The number of asthma-related referrals in relation to all pulmonary consultation referrals decreased and their quality improved during the years of the Asthma Programme.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

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Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

[Not Available].

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Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of quality of life between asthmatic and healthy school children.

There are only a few studies which have assessed the impact of asthma on the quality of life (QoL) compared to healthy children. In this study we wanted to compare QoL between asthmatic and healthy children in a population based setting. We surveyed 2159 children aged 11-15 yr with a Child Health Questionnaire; a generic QoL measure for children. This method gives a profile of the QoL consisting of 11 scales giving a range from 0 to 100. Asthma was defined based on the ISAAC questionnaire on asthma and asthma symptoms. In all, 192 children (8.9%) reported to have asthma diagnosed by a doctor and 61 of them (2.8% of all children) had been symptomatic during the previous month. Among these symptomatic children significantly impaired QoL was observed in 8 of the 11 scales compared to non-asthmatics. The most affected scales were those defining the physical part of child's QoL: Mean General Health scores were 60 for asthmatic and 74 for non-asthmatic children and mean Bodily Pain scores 71 and 86, respectively. Symptoms during longer periods were associated with an overall decreased QoL. In conclusion, a child's asthma impairs the QoL and especially the physical dimensions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Asthma Programme in Finland: high consensus between general practitioners and pulmonologists on the contents of an asthma referral letter.

AIMS: The purpose of the present study was to define quality criteria for an asthma referral letter using a national co-operative effort between general practitioners and pulmonologists. METHODS: A consensus-seeking expert panel representing primary and secondary health care merged evidence from the literature and existing national and local asthma programmes to produce 19 provisional criteria to be included in an asthma referral letter. These criteria were contained within a national questionnaire review which was sent out to groups of Finnish physicians. The target groups for the review were all chief pulmonologists in specialist care (n = 32), and representatives of all Finnish health centres (n = 283) - either the chief physician (n = 143) or the local asthma co-ordinating physician (n = 140). RESULTS: The overall response rate to the national questionnaire study was 75%. The three groups of responding physicians had very similar gradings on the necessity of the 19 provisional criteria, most of which were considered very necessary. 14 final disease-specific criteria for an asthma referral letter were derived as a result of this study. CONCLUSION: The main result of this study is an agreed data set of essential information that needs to be included in an asthma referral letter. Importantly these criteria were developed by general practitioners and pulmonologists together.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Cumulative prevalence of atopic eczema and related skin symptoms in a well-baby clinic: a retrospective cohort study.

The aim of the study was to assess the frequency and treatment policy of atopic eczema (AE) and related skin symptoms including rash, redness, dryness and itch in 0- to 5-year-old children. Health records of 320 children born in 1994 were systematically studied. The main results were that 77% of children suffered from skin symptoms during their first 5 years while the cumulative prevalence of AE was 16%, and 11% of children with skin symptoms were referred to a specialist. AE and related skin symptoms were common in the first 5 years of life, and were mostly temporary and responsive to topical treatment. Well-baby clinics play a key role in the treatment of skin-symptomatic children.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2003

Oral prednisolone in the acute management of children age 6 to 35 months with viral respiratory infection-induced lower airway disease: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of oral prednisolone in virally induced respiratory distress. Study design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 230 children age 6 to 35 months in the emergency department. Each patient received either oral prednisolone (2 mg/kg/d) or placebo for 3 days. RESULTS: The hospitalization rates were similar between the two groups. For admitted children (n=123), the median length of stay was 1 day shorter in the prednisolone group (2 vs 3 days, P=.060). The proportion of children requiring >or=3 days of hospitalization was 47.5% in the prednisolone group and 67.7% in the placebo group (P=.023). There was less need for additional asthma medication (18.0% vs 37.1%, P=.018) in the prednisolone group. The median duration of symptoms of respiratory distress was 1 day in the prednisolone group versus 2 days in the placebo group both among the hospitalized (P<.001) and nonhospitalized children (P=.006). CONCLUSION: A 3-day course of oral prednisolone effectively reduced disease severity, length of hospital stay, and the duration of symptoms among children 6 to 35 months old with virally induced respiratory distress.

Administration, Oral↗