Faculty Collaboration Database

Variability in the labeling of asthma among pediatricians. PLoS One 2013;8(4):e62398

Date

05/03/2013

Pubmed ID

23638066

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3634749

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0062398

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84876515020 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   8 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined variability among physicians in the perception and interpretation of asthma symptoms. We report the results of a pilot study to investigate the variability of symptom description and diagnostic labeling and nomenclature among a group of clinicians using standardized audiovisual presentations of asthma.

METHODS: Practicing pediatricians in Wisconsin recruited from an electronic mailing list were shown the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) video questionnaire online, and asked to describe the symptoms and signs they observed and suggest possible diagnostic labels for each presentation.

RESULTS: A total of 113 pediatricians (mean age = 43 years; 56% female) responded to ≥1 of the 5 video scenes. The number of practitioners who described the principal symptom(s) of asthma depicted in the 5 sequences ranged from 5.5% for Scene 5 (featuring both dyspnea and wheeze), to 100% for Scene 4 (featuring cough). The number who suggested label of 'asthma' as a possible cause of the presentations ranged from 69.7% for Scene 3 (featuring nocturnal wheeze), to 92.7% for Scene 2 (featuring exercise induced wheeze).

CONCLUSION: There is important unexplained variation in the perceptions and labeling of asthma symptoms among pediatricians. These differences may influence the likelihood of diagnosis and the apparent prevalence of asthma. Many participants suggested that the ISAAC video be used in the education and training of pediatricians.

Author List

Van Sickle D, Magzamen S, Maenner MJ, Crane J, Corden TE

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Asthma
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pediatrics
Physicians
Pilot Projects
Surveys and Questionnaires
Symptom Assessment
Video Recording