A Comparison of Management Strategies of Asthma in Pregnancy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Investigate differences in practice patterns in providers who may care for pregnant women with asthma exacerbations. The investigators believe that practitioners of different specialties will practice differently.

Detailed Description
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The goal of this investigation is to determine how physicians manage pregnant patients with asthma exacerbations using patient vignettes. Vignettes or case studies have been shown in various areas of medicine to be an effective tool for surveying provider's knowledge and application of evidence-based guidelines (9,10,11,12). Specifically, we plan on surveying physicians-in-training and attending physicians in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at the Ohio State University Werner Medical Center via electronic mail. Electronic mail addresses will be obtained from each Department or Division's Training Program Director. We have presented multiple, fictional, case-based scenarios and short, multiple-choice questions where the responder indicates how they would manage the case. No existing patient data will be used in the scenarios. In addition, demographic data of the physician including length of time in practice, numbers of patients seen with asthma exacerbations per month, and comfort level with the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Guidelines (1). The survey is attached. Physicians who do not respond to the first electronic mail will be sent one follow-up electronic mail with a second request to complete the survey. Results from the questionnaires completed by each department/devision of physicians will be compared and analyzed for significant differences. The results will then be used to look for educational opportunities to improve the care of pregnant patients with asthma exacerbations.

Official Title
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A Comparison of Management Strategies of Asthma in Pregnancy

Conditions
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Asthma, Pregnancy

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Physicians-in-training and attending physicans at the Ohio State University Medical Center Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at the Ohio State University Werner Medical Center

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 88 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Physician practice patterns in asthma management using clinical vignettes | The goal of this investigation is to determine how physicians manage pregnant patients with asthma exacerbations using patient vignettes. We have presented multiple, fictional, case-based scenarios and short, multiple-choice questions where the responder indicates how they would manage the case. | Single use survey open for three month period | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Demographic description of respondents | Demographic data of physician respondents including length of time in practice, numbers of patients seen with asthma exacerbations per month, and comfort level with the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Guidelines. | Single use survey open for three month period |