Primary Care Pathway for Childhood Asthma: Protocol for a Randomized Cluster-Controlled Trial.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Childhood asthma is a prevalent chronic condition with significant impact on children, families, and healthcare systems.
• Inadequate asthma control in children leads to increased hospitalizations and reduced quality of life.
• Primary care practitioners can improve asthma management by integrating evidence-based practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the management of pediatric asthma through an electronic clinical pathway and train-the-trainer education program.
• To provide primary care practitioners with an integrated electronic guide for asthma management.
• To promote asthma education within primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• A pragmatic cluster-controlled trial design incorporating quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• Economic evaluation to assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.
• Implementation of a clinical pathway and education intervention in primary care settings.

Main Results:

• The research secured funding and obtained ethics approvals.
• Practice recruitment commenced in Fall 2015, with study completion expected by March 2018.
• The intervention's effectiveness will be analyzed, with a strategy for broader implementation if positive.

Conclusions:

• The proposed clinical pathway and education intervention shows potential for improving pediatric asthma care in Alberta.
• The intervention is expected to enhance the quality of care for childhood asthma.
• The program aims to achieve better asthma management outcomes at a comparable or lower cost.