Key priorities to prevent avoidable asthma hospitalisations: insights from end-users

Asthma remains a significant burden on health systems and individuals, with many hospitalisations in Australia considered preventable through improved management and community care. This study aimed to explore end-user perspectives on preventing potentially avoidable asthma hospitalisations and identify key themes, research questions and priorities.

This cross-sectional study involved administering an anonymous online survey as part of a national asthma research priority-setting initiative. The participants included people living with asthma, their carers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in Australia, all of whom were asked to provide free-text responses regarding the research questions they considered important for preventing asthma hospitalisations. Responses underwent thematic and content analysis to identify themes.

Of the 554 respondents, 461 (83%) were individuals living with asthma, primarily females aged 45-64 years. The analysis identified nine key themes; however, subgroup analysis revealed four dominant themes: 1) self-management support, focusing on increasing knowledge and confidence, awareness of when to seek help, and the use of digital health tools; 2) pharmacological approaches, seeking better medication options with minimal side-effects; 3) strategies for avoiding major asthma events, emphasising improved proactive measures to reduce asthma attacks; 4) asthma care, highlighting the need to make medications more affordable, and enhanced access to care.

This study highlights key research priorities from the collective voice of end-users on preventing potentially avoidable asthma-related hospitalisations. These novel data provide a foundation for future research aimed at supporting Asthma Australia's vision to reduce asthma-related hospitalisations by 50% by 2030.