Implementation of the Asthma Control Test in a Large Primary Care Network.

Introduction: Achieving control in asthma is a primary goal of pediatric care, and assessing the degree of control is a principal step in management. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) in a large primary care network as a means to reliably and consistently assess asthma control at all visit types.

Methods: A prospective design was used to measure provider documentation of the ACT or C-ACT. Patients (or caregivers) 4 years of age or older with a known diagnosis of asthma were administered the ACT (ages 12 and older) or the C-ACT (ages, 4-11). The quality improvement project, which involved multiple interventions, took place at 11 centers of the Primary Care Network of Nationwide Children's Hospital from November 2013 to December 2014. A goal was set for a 70% completion rate of the ACT/C-ACT at any visit type for patients 4 years of age or older with asthma.

Results: Six months after the introduction of the questionnaires, the 70% completion rate was reached. Rates of ACT/C-ACT completion have consistently exceeded 70% through December 2016.

Conclusions: We demonstrated that the ACT/C-ACT can be integrated into a busy primary care network. It is imperative to work toward better asthma care; consistent assessment of asthma control can be the critical first step.