A specialist nurse led liaison model of care reduced unscheduled care for acute asthma in a deprived multiethnic area
Q Does a specialist nurse led liaison model of care reduce unscheduled care for patients with acute asthma in a deprived multiethnic area?
METHODS
Design:
cluster randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (outcome assessors and data analysts).
Follow up period:
1 year.
Setting:
44 general practices in east London, UK.
Patients:
324 patients who were 4–60 years of age (mean age 23 y, 50% men, 51% South Asian), had physician diagnosed asthma, and were admitted to or attended hospital or general practitioner after-hours services with acute asthma.
Intervention:
general practices were stratified by partnership size, training practice status, hospital admission rate for asthma, and employment of a practice nurse and whether he or she was trained in asthma care. 22 practices (175 patients) were allocated to a liaison model of care: two 1 h asthma specialist nurse visits to each practice to discuss acute asthma management guidelines; specialist nurse review of patient asthma control and drugs (identification of high risk asthma, assessment of inhaler technique and peak expiratory flow, and self …
