Selected aspects of quality and patient safety in management of asthmatic children and effectiveness of a health education intervention for caregivers in reducing recurrent attacks

INTERVENTION: Study setting ‐ Paediatric wards of Gampaha and Negombo hospitals The study participants ‐ caregivers of asthmatic children Selection of study and control group – Randomization will be carried out for the days of the study period. Either Gampaha or Negombo hospital will be allocated as the study group according to randomization for each day. The intervention will be carried out for the caregivers form the selected hospital for that particular day. The caregivers in the hospital which was not selected will be chosen as the control group. Intervention Study group – health education booklet will be given to caregivers of asthmatic children Control group – No health education booklet to be given to caregivers of asthmatic children CONDITION: Asthma PRIMARY OUTCOME: Proportion of children with recurrent attacks needing visits to GP/OPD/hospital during past three months SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1.Mean score on knowledge of asthma in care givers ; 2.Proportion of children having compliance with treatment ; 3. Proportion of children with hospital admissions INCLUSION CRITERIA: Caregivers with a child of 2 to 12 years of age admitted for treatment of asthma and refered to follow a paediatric clinic at Negombo and Gampaha hospitals.