AIM:
Asses the feasibility of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement in asthmatic children using a hand-held device in the primary care setting.
METHODS:
Multicentre study performed in the paediatric clinics in seven Spanish primary health care centres.
Each centre consecutively included 6-14 year-old children with doctor-diagnosed asthma.
Children were asked to obtain two valid measurements of FeNO with the hand-held device NIOX MINO (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Sweden). Feasibility analysis included: (a) percentage of children able to perform the manoeuvre, (b) time required to obtain a successful determination, (c) number of attempts needed, and (d) acceptability of the technical procedure by clinical personnel involved in their guidance.
RESULTS:
The Study enrolled 151 children. A total of 149 (98.7%) were able to perform the FeNO manoeuvre.
The majority (55%) of children had previous experience of using the hand-held device.
The Overall median (and Interquartile Range, IQR) of attempts needed to reach a first valid measurement was 2 (1-3) and median (IQR) of time taken was 4 min (3-5). Nurses considered the overall procedure was very easy or easy in 87.8% (teaching) and 86.5% (performing) of children.
Children with previous experience performed the manoeuvre in less attempts, less time and more easily than children without experience.
CONCLUSIONS:
Measurement of FeNO using NIOX MINO device is technically feasible and acceptable for children and staff in the clinical context of asthma management in primary health care.
Previous experience had a positive, learning effect, in teaching and performing the FeNO manoeuvre.
2009-08-31
Spa.
Anales de pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003)
Centro de Salud de Moreda, Moreda, Asturias, España. cdiazvazquez [at] gmail.com
An Pediatr (Barc). 2009 Sep;71(3):209-14
© Galenicom 1999-2013