Nurse versus physician-led care for the management of asthma.

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood and prevalence is also high in adulthood, thereby placing a considerable burden on healthcare resources. Therefore, effective asthma management is important to reduce morbidity and to optimise utilisation of healthcare facilities.

Objectives: To review the effectiveness of nurse-led asthma care provided by a specialised asthma nurse, a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant or an otherwise specifically trained nursing professional, working relatively independently from a physician, compared to traditional care provided by a physician.

Paediatric asthma outpatient care by asthma nurse, paediatrician or general practitioner: randomised controlled trial with two-year follow-up.

Aims: For children with stable asthma, to test non-inferiority of care provided by a hospital-based specialised asthma nurse versus a general practitioner (GP) or paediatrician.

Methods: Randomised controlled trial evaluating standard care by a GP, paediatrician or an asthma nurse, with two-year follow-up.

Results: 107 children were recruited, 45 from general practice and 62 from hospital.

Children with asthma on inhaled corticosteroids managed in general practice or by hospital paediatricians: is there a difference?

Aim: To investigate whether there are differences in asthma characteristics between two populations of children with moderate asthma requiring inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) who are treated in general practice or in hospital practice.

Patients And Methods: 45 children from general practice and 62 from hospital practice, diagnosed with asthma and treated with ICS, were analysed in terms of lung function parameters, asthma control (ACQ), and use of medication.

Results: Children in general practice did not differ significantly from those in paediatric practice with respect to mean age, lung function tests, and corrected daily dose of ICS.