Asthma is the most common respiratory complication of pregnancy and affects approximately 4% of all pregnant women. The focus of most studies conducted to date have been on the impact of asthma on perinatal outcomes. Peak flow measurements are commonly recommended interventions to assess the status of asthma yet peak flow changes have not been validated on pregnant women with asthma. The only study conducted has been on women without asthma or other respiratory diseases and those peak flow values did not change during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to establish normative data regarding peak flow changes across weeks gestation in pregnant women with asthma. A convenience sample of 100 pregnant women with asthma are be being recruited into the sample prior to 20 weeks of gestation and are being followed throughout their pregnancies. Participants are recording peak flow measurements in a log that will is returned to the investigator. Participants are also recording asthma symptoms, medications, and triggers into the log. Incentives are provided to participants to encourage completion of the study. Descriptive statistics will be used to categorize peak flows during pregnancy by gestational age. Correlations will be calculated for asthma symptoms, peak flows, and medications. This study is a logical next step in identifying the impact of asthma on pregnancy and will further understanding regarding the influence of pregnancy on asthma.
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Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003