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Full Trial Report
Brisbane 1995
A clinical trial funded by Australian Association of Asthma Foundations was conducted in December 1994- January 1995 through the Mater Hospital (Brisbane). It was conducted by Professor Charles Mitchell and Doctor Simon Bowler. The results were released at the conference for Thoracic physicians Society in Hobart in March 1995.
To compare the efficacy of the Buteyko Method with the conventional asthma treatment 39 asthmatics were recruited following a publicity campaign. All individuals gave a convincing history of asthma and were taking significant doses of asthma medication. They were randomly divided into two groups which were stratified by daily bronchodilators use. Before division medication intake was optimised for one month to minimise usage of bronchodilators. The control group was trained by a physiotherapist in conventional techniques including relaxation, coughing and abdominal breathing techniques. In the Buteyko group Buteyko method was taught by an experienced Buteyko Practitioner. The trial was 'blind' which means, that neither group was aware of which group they were in.
During the trial asthmatics in both groups were asked to use bronchodilating medication only to overcome asthma symptoms, attempting to minimise bronchodilator usage. Subjects were also required not to change their steroid medication intake during the initial six weeks of the trial. Medication usage, symptoms levels and respiratory parameters were recorded in diary cards for every patient.
At the end of 4 weeks run-in period, at 6 weeks and at 3 months patients from both groups answered a self-administrated quality of life questionnaire. Quality of life was estimated accordingly to the impact of asthma on breathing, mood, social activity and concern for the future.
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