Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health, P.Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Department of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
Eur J Pediatr. 2017 Oct;176(10):1375-1383. doi: 10.1007/s00431-017-3003-z. Epub 2017 Aug 28.
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) are very common in children having no effective pharmacological treatment. This study aimed to compare the effect of caregivers' health education regarding children's respiratory infections and the effect of a rhinopharyngeal clearance protocol in children with URTI. A factorial trial was conducted in 138 children up to 3 years, attending day-care centres. Children were distributed into four groups: control group (CG) (n = 38); education group (EG) (n = 34); intervention group (IG) (n = 35); and education and intervention group (E + IG) (n = 31). A Diary of Records was kept by caregivers during 1 month. There were significant differences between groups concerning: Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (CG = 29.4%; EG = 10.7%; IG = 3.8%; E + IG = 0.0%; p = 0.014); acute otitis media (CG = 32.4%; EG = 7.1%; IG = 11.5%; E + IG = 7.7%; p = 0.014); medical consultations (CG = 70.6%; EG = 42.9%; IG = 38.5%; E + IG = 30.8%; p = 0.021); antibiotics (CG = 44.1%; EG = 7.1%; IG = 23.1%; E + IG = 15.4%; p = 0.006); days missed from day-care (CG = 55 days; EG = 22 days; IG = 14 days; E + IG = 6 days; p = 0.020); days missed from employment (CG = 31 days; EG = 20 days; IG = 5 days; E + IG = 1 day; p = 0.021); and nasal clearance techniques (CG = 41.4%; EG = 78.6%; IG = 57.7%; E + IG = 84.6%; p = 0.011).
This study showed that the most positive impact on children's health outcomes occurred when combining health education of caregivers, regarding children's respiratory infections, with a rhinopharyngeal clearance protocol in children with URTI. What is Known: • Upper Respiratory Tract Infections are very common in children but still do not have an effective pharmacological treatment. • This generates a great burden of disease for the child and families, increasing the use of antibiotics. What is New: • This study is the first one that aims to analyze the effects of caregivers' health education in comparison to non-pharmacological intervention in acute respiratory infections in children. • It shows a positive impact on children's health outcomes, empowering caregivers regarding their child's health and reducing the burden of disease, medical consultations and the use of antibiotics.
上呼吸道感染（URTI）在儿童中非常常见，目前尚无有效的药物治疗方法。本研究旨在比较针对儿童呼吸道感染的照顾者健康教育与鼻腔清除方案对儿童 URTI 的影响。对 138 名 3 岁以下的日间护理中心儿童进行了一项析因试验。儿童分为四组：对照组（CG）（n=38）；教育组（EG）（n=34）；干预组（IG）（n=35）；教育和干预组（E+IG）（n=31）。照顾者在 1 个月期间保留了记录日记。各组之间在以下方面存在显著差异：下呼吸道感染（CG=29.4%；EG=10.7%；IG=3.8%；E+IG=0.0%；p=0.014）；急性中耳炎（CG=32.4%；EG=7.1%；IG=11.5%；E+IG=7.7%；p=0.014）；医疗咨询（CG=70.6%；EG=42.9%；IG=38.5%；E+IG=30.8%；p=0.021）；抗生素（CG=44.1%；EG=7.1%；IG=23.1%；E+IG=15.4%；p=0.006）；缺勤天数（CG=55 天；EG=22 天；IG=14 天；E+IG=6 天；p=0.020）；缺勤天数（CG=31 天；EG=20 天；IG=5 天；E+IG=1 天；p=0.021）；和鼻腔清除技术（CG=41.4%；EG=78.6%；IG=57.7%；E+IG=84.6%；p=0.011）。
本研究表明，当将针对儿童呼吸道感染的照顾者健康教育与 URTI 儿童鼻腔清除方案相结合时，对儿童健康结果的影响最为积极。
•上呼吸道感染在儿童中非常常见，但仍没有有效的药物治疗方法。•这会给儿童及其家庭带来沉重的疾病负担，增加抗生素的使用。
•本研究首次旨在分析照顾者健康教育与非药物干预在儿童急性呼吸道感染中的效果。•它显示了对儿童健康结果的积极影响，增强了照顾者对其子女健康的信心，并减轻了疾病负担、医疗咨询和抗生素的使用。
