Objective: To improve documentation for children presenting to the Eme
rgency Department (ED) of The Children's Hospital with acute asthma. M
ethodology: In phase I, the documentation process was analysed using a
standard total quality management (TQM) approach to identify specific
problems leading to poor documentation. Fifty-two medical records of
children presenting over a 3 week period were reviewed for nursing and
medical documentation. A set of minimum criteria, consistent with the
Paediatric Asthma Management Plan, were established for documentation
by both medical and nursing staff. Following dissemination and educat
ion, compliance with documentation was evaluated and compared to an as
thma survey performed in the ED in 1991. In phase II, a specific profo
rma for medical assessment was developed and 80 medical records of chi
ldren presenting over a 3 week period were reviewed. Fifty-two (65%) w
ith completed proformas were evaluated. The outcome measure was the do
cumentation rate for minimum criteria established by TBM process. Resu
lts: In phase I, nursing compliance with documentation ranged from 46%
for signs of respiratory distress to 83% for a past history of asthma
and 100% for pulse rate. Doctors were similarly poor at documenting e
ssential elements such as severity (31%), palpable pulsus paradoxus (2
9%), the child's usual doctor (46%) and follow-up arrangements (21-56%
). In phase II, the documentation of the severity of acute asthma (42%
) and of the child's usual doctor (42%) remained poor but there were s
tatistically significant improvements in documentation of interval med
ications, palpable pulsus paradoxus, respiratory rate, pre-treatment o
ximetry, education, follow-up arrangements and communication letters.
Conclusion: The process of TQM has proved valuable in improving some a
spects of documentation of children presenting to ED with acute asthma
. It remains to be shown whether improved documentation will result in
improved outcome.