PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 331 - 22 Sep 2001

■ Specialist, rather than generalist, physiciansappear to provide better quality of care to childrenand adolescents with asthma, using nationalguidelines* as a standard, report researchers from theUS.** They surveyed the parents of children andadolescents (aged 5–17 years) enrolled in 1 of 2managed-care organisations in the US during1997–1998. When the usual source of care was aspecialist, care was in line with guidelines moreconsistently than when provided by generalists.However, the researchers found that there was ‘roomto improve consistency of care with guidelines for bothgroups’.* 1997 National Asthma Education and Prevention Programupdated Expert Panel Report 2 guidelines** One of the researchers was affiliated with Merck & Co., whichprovided funding for the study.

Diette GB, et al. Comparison of quality of care by specialist and generalistphysicians as usual source of asthma care for children. Pediatrics 108:432-437, Aug 2001 800876044

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 22 Sep 2001 No. 3311173-5503/10/0331-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved