What evidence is available?

Sources of Evidence	Information Provided	Limitation of Evidence
Parent / Carer	First source of information about details of GP and Consultant appointments and prescription of medication.	Does not have specialist knowledge.
GPFR	Children with asthma should be identified by the primary care trust. The Quality outcome Framework (QOF) f or Primary Care, details minimum data that should be collected about a person with asthma. For those children with asthma managed in primary care the following information is likely to be collected annually -: Information on whether asthma is well controlled may include scoring from ‘Asthma Control Questionnaire’ or ‘Asthma Control Test’. Lung function – either PEFR reading or spirometry. Information on exacerbations of asthma including number of courses of oral steroids and time off school Inhaler technique Compliance with treatment (checked by reviewing whether repeat prescriptions have been requested) Reliance on bronchodilators (checking repeat prescription for beta agonist inhaler) Possession of and use of self management plan/personal action plan for asthma. The majority of children managed in primary care will have this information collected about their asthma. Those being managed in secondary care will be identified as having asthma and receive their medication via the GP. Confirmation of diagnosis and prescription information will be available. Details of asthma control should be available from the treating hospital. The children’s asthma specialist nurse or paediatrician will be the best source of information on asthma control in these cases.	More detailed information will be available for children with mild asthma who are managed in primary care. The GP may only be able to confirm medication prescribed for children with more severe asthma managed in secondary care, this may be sufficient evidence for children over 5.
HFR	The best source of information on children with more severe asthma will be the asthma specialist nurse or the consultant paediatrician. They will be able to provide written confirmation of specific advice on supervision given to parents by the hospital and provide up to date details of current medication and asthma control.	N/A

Sources of Evidence

Information Provided

Limitation of Evidence

Parent / Carer

First source of information about details of GP and Consultant appointments and prescription of medication.

Does not have specialist knowledge.

GPFR

Children with asthma should be identified by the primary care trust. The Quality outcome Framework (QOF) f or Primary Care, details minimum data that should be collected about a person with asthma. For those children with asthma managed in primary care the following information is likely to be collected annually -:

Information on whether asthma is well controlled may include scoring from ‘Asthma Control Questionnaire’ or ‘Asthma Control Test’.
Lung function – either PEFR reading or spirometry.
Information on exacerbations of asthma including number of courses of oral steroids and time off school
Inhaler technique
Compliance with treatment (checked by reviewing whether repeat prescriptions have been requested)
Reliance on bronchodilators (checking repeat prescription for beta agonist inhaler)
Possession of and use of self management plan/personal action plan for asthma.

The majority of children managed in primary care will have this information collected about their asthma. Those being managed in secondary care will be identified as having asthma and receive their medication via the GP. Confirmation of diagnosis and prescription information will be available. Details of asthma control should be available from the treating hospital. The children’s asthma specialist nurse or paediatrician will be the best source of information on asthma control in these cases.

More detailed information will be available for children with mild asthma who are managed in primary care. The GP may only be able to confirm medication prescribed for children with more severe asthma managed in secondary care, this may be sufficient evidence for children over 5.

HFR

The best source of information on children with more severe asthma will be the asthma specialist nurse or the consultant paediatrician. They will be able to provide written confirmation of specific advice on supervision given to parents by the hospital and provide up to date details of current medication and asthma control.

N/A

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What evidence is available?

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