Prescription Alerts for Reliever Inhalers in Children (PARC) Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reducing Severe Asthma Exacerbations by Using Prescription Alerts for Excessive Reliever Inhaler Use to Target High Risk Children: A Randomised Controlled Trial
IRAS ID
332076
Contact name
Anna Selby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background:
Many children and teenagers have asthma; a long-term lung condition causing wheezing and breathlessness. Severe asthma attacks may need hospital treatment and can be life-threatening. Two types of inhalers are used to treat asthma: relievers and preventers. Children using high numbers of reliever inhalers are more likely to have severe asthma attacks. It has therefore been recommended that these children should have an urgent check-up. This does not yet routinely happen.Aim:
To determine whether children (aged 1-17 years) prescribed 7 or more reliever inhalers in the past year invited to an enhanced nurse led check-up will have fewer asthma attacks in the following year.Methods:
General practices across the Wessex and Thames Valley regions will randomly be divided into two groups:1. Practices offering enhanced asthma check-ups (intervention practices).
2. Practices providing usual asthma care (control practices).Practices will be asked to identify children aged 1-17 years who have been prescribed 7 or more reliever inhalers in the past year. In intervention practices, these children will be invited for an asthma check-up. This will be undertaken by a specially trained general practice nurse. At the check-up, we will explore reasons for poor asthma control including symptom triggers, prescribed asthma treatment and whether treatments are taken as prescribed. We will also check children's inhaler technique and provide families with an asthma action plan.
Outcomes:
At the end of the project, we will compare the number of severe asthma attacks in a year in children from intervention and usual care practices. We will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of providing enhanced check-ups to children prescribed high numbers of reliever inhalers and we will talk to some children, their parents and health professionals about their experience of the check-up. This will help with introducing them into routine practice if they prove effective.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
24/WS/0004
Date of REC Opinion
1 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion