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Improving general practice consultations for older people with asthma: a cluster randomised control trial
Dianne P Goeman1, Lena A Sanci, Simon L Scharf
1Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine (AIRmed), Cooperative Research Centre for Asthma and Airways, Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. d.goeman@alfred.org.au
The Medical Journal of Australia
|July 22, 2009
Summary
A study on older adults with asthma found that while an educational intervention improved general practitioners' (GPs) consultation skills, it did not significantly enhance patient asthma control or quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
- Medical Education
Background:
- Asthma management in older adults presents unique challenges.
- Effective communication and care delivery by general practitioners (GPs) are crucial for this demographic.
- Previous interventions have focused on improving GP performance in asthma care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of a multifaceted educational intervention on GPs' effectiveness in managing asthma in older patients.
- To determine if improved GP performance translates to better patient outcomes, including asthma control, quality of life, and lung function.
Main Methods:
- A cluster randomised controlled trial involving 42 GPs and 107 asthma patients aged 55 years and older.
- Intervention group GPs received multifaceted education; control group received standard care.
- Outcomes measured via videorecorded GP consultations, patient asthma control, quality of life, and lung function at baseline and 4 months.
Main Results:
- GPs in the intervention group demonstrated significantly improved consultation content and style compared to the control group.
- No significant differences were observed between groups in patient asthma control scores at 4 months.
- Asthma-related quality of life and lung function also showed no significant improvement in the intervention group.
Conclusions:
- The educational intervention successfully enhanced general practitioners' skills in delivering asthma care to older individuals.
- Despite improvements in GP performance, the intervention did not lead to significant improvements in patient-level asthma outcomes.
- Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for improving asthma management outcomes in the elderly population.
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