Anticipated barriers and facilitators for implementing smart inhalers in asthma medication adherence management.

Smart inhalers are electronic monitoring devices which are promising in increasing medication adherence and maintaining asthma control. A multi-stakeholder capacity and needs assessment is recommended prior to implementation in healthcare systems. This study aimed to explore perceptions of stakeholders and to identify anticipated facilitators and barriers associated with the implementation of smart digital inhalers in the Dutch healthcare system.

Effectiveness, usability and acceptability of a smart inhaler programme in patients with asthma: protocol of the multicentre, pragmatic, open-label, cluster randomised controlled ACCEPTANCE trial.

Introduction: Suboptimal asthma control is associated with incorrect inhaler use and poor medication adherence, which could lead to unfavourable clinical and economic outcomes. Smart inhaler programmes using electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) could support self-management and increase medication adherence and asthma control. However, evidence on long-term benefits and acceptability is scarce.

Development of a tool to detect small airways dysfunction in asthma clinical practice.

Background: Small airways dysfunction (SAD) in asthma is difficult to measure and a gold standard is lacking. The aim of this study was to develop a simple tool including items of the Small Airways Dysfunction Tool (SADT) questionnaire, basic patient characteristics and respiratory tests available depending on the clinical setting to predict SAD in asthma.

Methods: This study was based on the data of the multinational ATLANTIS (Assessment of Small Airways Involvement in Asthma) study including the earlier developed SADT questionnaire.

Validation of the food allergy quality of life questionnaire series in Chinese families with food-allergic children.

Background: Anxiety from accidental exposure and vigilant dietary monitoring impair the quality of life (QoL) of food-allergic patients. A comprehensive food allergy-specific questionnaire allows patients to accurately report their QoL. This study validated the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire (FAQLQ) series and assessed the QoL of Chinese food-allergic patients and their caregivers.

Managing food allergy: GALEN guideline 2022.

Food allergy affects approximately 2-4% of children and adults. This guideline provides recommendations for managing food allergy from the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GALEN). A multidisciplinary international Task Force developed the guideline using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II framework and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.

Perceptions on Home-Administration of Biologics in the Context of Severe Asthma: An International Qualitative Study.

Background: Biologics are an effective therapy for severe asthma. Home administration of biologics by patients is likely to facilitate their accessibility. Yet little is known about patients' and health care providers' (HCPs) perceptions regarding home administration of biologics.

Allergic and hypersensitivity conditions in non-specialist care: Flow diagrams to support clinical practice.

Most patients presenting with allergies are first seen by primary care health professionals. The perceived knowledge gaps and educational needs were recently assessed in response to which the LOGOGRAM Task Force was established with the remit of constructing pragmatic flow diagrams for common allergic conditions in line with an earlier EAACI proposal to develop simplified pathways for the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases in primary care. To address the lack of accessible and pragmatic guidance, we designed flow diagrams for five major clinical allergy conditions: asthma, anaphylaxis, food allergy, drug allergy, and urticaria.

Current allergy educational needs in primary care. Results of the EAACI working group on primary care survey exploring the confidence to manage and the opportunity to refer patients with allergy.

Unlabelled: The aim of this survey was to explore the specific educational needs of a cohort of European GPs with regards to allergy training so that future educational initiatives may better support the delivery of allergy services in primary care.

Method: This study took the form of a cross-sectional observational study in which a structured electronic questionnaire was distributed to primary care providers, in eight languages, across 8 European countries between September 2019 and November 2019. Data associated with demographic parameters, professional qualifications, type of employment, level of confidence regarding competencies for diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases, referral of patients to allergist and preferred method of learning and assessment were collected.

Health-related quality of life of food-allergic children compared with healthy controls and other diseases.

Background: Food allergy is a potentially life-threatening disease, affecting up to 10% of the pediatric population.

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of food-allergic patients compared with the general population and patients with other chronic diseases with dietary or allergic burden, in a cross-sectional study.

Methods: We recruited patients aged 8-17 years diagnosed with food allergy and matched healthy controls recruited in schools.

High Use of SABAs is Associated with Higher Exacerbation Rate in Dutch Patients with Asthma.

Purpose: Many patients with asthma still have insufficient disease control, despite the availability of effective treatment options. A substantial proportion of patients appear to rely more on short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) rather than on anti-inflammatory maintenance treatment. The aim of this study was to describe differences in indicators of asthma symptoms and exacerbations among patients using more or less SABA than the guideline-recommended threshold of <3 times/week.

Work absence in patients with asthma and/or COPD: a population-based study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma impact on work productivity, but their population-based burden and clinical predictors are understudied. In this observational, real-life study, work absence of 14,383 asthma and/or COPD patients present in the MAJORICA cohort (Spain) was compared with the general population. Using multivariable regression, we studied the association of work absence with demographic and clinical characteristics.

Burden and socioeconomics of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and food allergy.

Introduction: Asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy affect approximately 20% of the global population. Few studies describe the burden of the totality of these diseases and only a handful studies provide a comprehensive overview of the socioeconomic impact of these diseases.

Areas Covered: For this narrative review, we searched Pubmed using selected keywords and inspected relevant references using a snowballing process.

Prevalence of Asthma Characteristics in COPD Patients in a Dutch Well-Established Asthma/COPD Service for Primary Care.

Purpose: Primary care COPD guidelines indicate that COPD patients with asthma characteristics should be treated as having asthma. This study aims to describe the prevalence of asthma characteristics in patients with a pulmonologist-confirmed working diagnosis of COPD or ACO.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study used real-life data (collected between 2007 and 2017) from a Dutch asthma/COPD-service, a structured web-based system in which pulmonologists support general practitioners in their diagnosis of patients with suspicion of obstructive lung disease.

Likely questionnaire-diagnosed food allergy in 78, 890 adults from the northern Netherlands.

Background: It is challenging to define likely food allergy (FA) in large populations which limited the number of large studies regarding risk factors for FA.

Objective: We studied the prevalence and characteristics of self-reported FA (s-rFA) in the large, population-based Dutch Lifelines cohort and identified associated risk factors.

Methods: Likely food allergic cases (LikelyFA) were classified based on questionnaire reported characteristics consistent with FA.

Development and construct validation of a parent-proxy quality of life instrument in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia aged 4-8 years old.

Purpose: Children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia often develop complications that affect them well into adult life. Very little is known about how this affects their quality of life, since no sensitive instrument is available to measure health-related quality of life in this population. In this study, a Dutch parent-proxy instrument was developed for this purpose.

The impact of oral food challenges for food allergy on quality of life: A systematic review.

Background: Food allergy significantly impairs health-related quality of life (HRQL). Currently, it is still unknown whether diagnostic interventions for food allergy improve HRQL. We aim to assess the impact of diagnostic interventions for food allergy on HRQL.

Development of an allergy management support system in primary care.

Background: Management of allergic patients in the population is becoming more difficult because of increases in both complexity and prevalence. Although general practitioners (GPs) are expected to play an important role in the care of allergic patients, they often feel ill-equipped for this task. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop an allergy management support system (AMSS) for primary care.

An Examination of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire Performance in a Countrywide American Sample of Children: Cross-Cultural Differences in Age and Impact in the United States and Europe.

Background: It is important to ensure that tools are valid and reliable in the context in which they are used. The development of age and country norms is part of this process.

Objectives: The primary aim of the present study was to examine the performance of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF) in a countrywide American sample of children with food allergy.

Health status instruments for patients with COPD in pulmonary rehabilitation: defining a minimal clinically important difference.

The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) defines to what extent change on a health status instrument is clinically relevant, which aids scientists and physicians in measuring therapy effects. This is the first study that aimed to establish the MCID of the Clinical chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Questionnaire (CCQ), the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) in the same pulmonary rehabilitation population using multiple approaches. In total, 451 COPD patients participated in a 3-week Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) programme (58 years, 65% male, 43 pack-years, GOLD stage II/III/IV 50/39/11%).