Comparison of handling and acceptability of two spacer devices in young children with asthma.

UNLABELLED: This study compared parents' preference for two spacer devices, NebuChamber and Babyhaler for the treatment of young children with asthma. In this open, cross-over study 141 patients (aged 5-57 mo) who used inhaled steroids via a spacer device were randomized to budesonide via NebuChamber or beclomethasone dipropionate via Babyhaler. Both treatments were given by the parents twice daily for 2 wk. At the final visit parents completed a questionnaire on preference in general and for a given set of features. Acceptability and handling were scored in a diary. Diary scores on acceptability by the child and handling of both spacer devices were comparable. In the preference questionnaire, 68% of parents preferred NebuChamber [95% confidence interval (CI) 60-76] and 25% Babyhaler (95% CI 18-33). The preference was independent of the type of spacer used before the study and was also apparent in the different features: acceptability by child, carrying around, cleaning, close fitting of face mask, assembling and disassembling, damage resistance and size. These differences were statistically significant for all features, except for acceptability by the child. CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of parents prefer NebuChamber over Babyhaler for the treatment of their young asthmatic children.

Research on a psychomotor program for children with severe motor or multiple disabilities.

This report deals with help for brain-injured children with severe motor or multiple disabilities. It is argued that these children lack experiences due to their motor-disabilities. On the basis of an analysis of psychomotor programs the program by Le Gay Brereton was chosen for further research. This program was judged to be suitable because it is designed for teaching disabled children in the preschool age and because it emphasizes interaction between teacher and child. The authors, however, did not follow all her recommendations. Three experimental studies on the effects of this program are reported here. A special topic is the construction and use of the evaluation instruments. These instruments were designed for evaluating individual changes. One instrument serves to evaluate the training process. The other one tests for changes in specific cognitive skills. A statistically significant improvement was reported in all three experiments. Finally the authors present a plan for further research which concentrates on formulating individual goals for the children and on an instruction method for teachers.

Increased vomiting induced by an antiemetic drug.

A case of progressive vomiting in a boy aged 5 months is reported. Vomiting was secondary to an obstruction in the antrum of the stomach caused by a mass consisting of alginate.