Understanding the processes underpinning IMPlementing IMProved Asthma self-management as RouTine (IMP²ART) in primary...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Implementation Science
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Supported self-management for asthma can reduce patient and healthcare burdens.
• Poor implementation in routine practice limits the benefits of asthma self-management.
• The IMPlementing IMProved Asthma self-management as RouTine (IMP²ART) trial investigates a whole-systems strategy for embedding self-management in UK primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a mixed-methods process evaluation of the IMP²ART trial.
• To understand the implementation processes, contextual factors, and outcomes of supported asthma self-management.
• To inform the scaling up and sustainability of asthma self-management strategies.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods process evaluation nested within the IMP²ART cluster randomised trial.
• Collection of quantitative data on practice context, IMP²ART delivery (fidelity, adaptation), and practice response.
• In-depth qualitative data collection through case studies and interviews, combined with theoretical synthesis.

Main Results:

• The evaluation will provide insights into the delivery and response to a whole-systems approach for asthma self-management.
• Understanding how and why the IMP²ART trial achieved its outcomes is crucial for sustainability.
• The study aims to identify facilitators and barriers to implementation in primary care.

Conclusions:

• This theoretically informed process evaluation will elucidate the implementation of supported asthma self-management in UK primary care.
• The adaptable methods are designed to capture the impact of changes in the primary care context.
• Findings will guide future efforts to scale up effective asthma self-management implementation strategies.