Questionnaire survey on "The guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of asthma" edited by the Japanese Society of Allergology (1993)]

A questionnaire on the evaluation of "The Guidelines on Diagnosis and Management of Asthma" edited by the Japanese Society of Allergology in 1993 was sent to 586 physicians consisting of specialists authorized by the Japanese Society of Allergology and the board members of this Society, who treated patients with bronchial asthma. Of total 306 (52.2%) who responded, 177 (57.8%) answered the questions on adult asthma only, 65 (21.2%) on childhood asthma only and 52 (17.9%) on both adult and childhood asthma. In total, we had 229 respondents on adult asthma and 117 on childhood asthma. As a result, on drug therapy for chronic asthma, it was pointed out that the use of oral anti-allergics, oral steroids and inhaled beta-stimulants was excessive whereas the use of DSCG, inhaled steroids and long acting theophylline was slightly insufficient in both adults and children. On the management of acute episodes, the excessive use of beta-stimulants (inhaled, oral and injections) and the lack of the use of parenteral steroids and oxygen inhalation were pointed out in adults. The lack of oxygen inhalation also got a higher percent in children. Nevertheless, the guidelines were found to be highly regarded as a whole: "Very good" was 6.1% in adults (6.8% in children). "Appropriate" 38.0% (33.3%), "Almost appropriate" 52.0% (52.1%) and "Inappropriate" 3.9% (3.4%).