Title: Pulmonary function testing in the management of asthma
Abstract: The management decisions resulting from pulmonary function testing were studied in 367 children with asthma attending outpatient pulmonary office evaluations. Physicians and nurse practitioners evaluated the children and made initial treatment decisions before reviewing the spirometry results; changes based on the test results were then documented. Spirometry was abnormal in 45% of the visits and the results changed management decisions in 15% of visits. The results showed that without pulmonary function testing, providers often overestimated the degree of asthma control.