%0 Journal Article %1 noKey %A Buckley, K. N. %A Ryder, S. A. %D 2012 %I Springer Netherlands %J International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy %K GPs asthma care communication community comparison general ireland myown nurses pharmacists pharmacy practice practitioners %N 1 %P 202-203 %R 10.1007/s11096-011-9602-2 %T A comparison of asthma care by general practitioners and practice nurses and their communication with community pharmacists in Ireland. (ESCP 40th International Symposium on Clinical Pharmacy. Clinical Pharmacy: Connecting Care and Outcomes Dublin Ireland, 19–21 October 2011.) %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11096-011-9602-2 %V 34 %X Introduction: It is estimated by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) that Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma worldwide. The objectives of this study were to compare the current state of asthma management among patients as estimated by their general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses, to explore the frequency of patient counselling on a variety of asthma management issues, and to compare the communication frequency between these practitioners and community pharmacists. Materials & Methods: Two anonymous postal questionnaires for self-completion (one for GPs and one for practice nurses) were distributed to every general practice surgery listed in the Irish classified telephone directory in January 2011. To increase the response rate a reminder letter was posted five weeks later. Responses were coded and analysed using SPSS v.16. Results: 29% of GPs and 19% of nurses responded to the survey. Overall, a greater proportion of GPs than nurses believed that their patients had good asthma management and a good understanding of asthma and their medications (p<0.01, chi-squared test, in each case). Of 15 asthma management interventions specified, 14 differed significantly in the frequency with which they were conducted by the two groups of health professionals and 12 were carried out significantly more frequently by GPs than nurses (p<0.01, chi-squared test). However, a number of interventions considered important in the appropriate management of asthma were conducted infrequently by both groups; only 15% of respondents in each group ‘always’ advised patients on the importance of using a peak flow meter to monitor asthma control. Communication of both GPs and practice nurses with community pharmacists was infrequent and did not differ between the two groups. Discussions, Conclusion: GPs generally carried out the specified asthma management interventions significantly more frequently than nurses and this may explain the differences in opinions on asthma management between the two groups. However, as a number of important interventions are being conducted infrequently by both groups, this may potentially lead to sub-optimal asthma control.

@article{noKey, abstract = {Introduction: It is estimated by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) that Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma worldwide. The objectives of this study were to compare the current state of asthma management among patients as estimated by their general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses, to explore the frequency of patient counselling on a variety of asthma management issues, and to compare the communication frequency between these practitioners and community pharmacists. Materials & Methods: Two anonymous postal questionnaires for self-completion (one for GPs and one for practice nurses) were distributed to every general practice surgery listed in the Irish classified telephone directory in January 2011. To increase the response rate a reminder letter was posted five weeks later. Responses were coded and analysed using SPSS v.16. Results: 29% of GPs and 19% of nurses responded to the survey. Overall, a greater proportion of GPs than nurses believed that their patients had good asthma management and a good understanding of asthma and their medications (p<0.01, chi-squared test, in each case). Of 15 asthma management interventions specified, 14 differed significantly in the frequency with which they were conducted by the two groups of health professionals and 12 were carried out significantly more frequently by GPs than nurses (p<0.01, chi-squared test). However, a number of interventions considered important in the appropriate management of asthma were conducted infrequently by both groups; only 15% of respondents in each group ‘always’ advised patients on the importance of using a peak flow meter to monitor asthma control. Communication of both GPs and practice nurses with community pharmacists was infrequent and did not differ between the two groups. Discussions, Conclusion: GPs generally carried out the specified asthma management interventions significantly more frequently than nurses and this may explain the differences in opinions on asthma management between the two groups. However, as a number of important interventions are being conducted infrequently by both groups, this may potentially lead to sub-optimal asthma control.}, added-at = {2013-07-31T21:49:30.000+0200}, author = {Buckley, K. N. and Ryder, S. A.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2dd60a0dc45d7be35c79e1ec564a6a863/sryder}, doi = {10.1007/s11096-011-9602-2}, interhash = {d15f42c95d0a321704a741ba92da8ef1}, intrahash = {dd60a0dc45d7be35c79e1ec564a6a863}, issn = {2210-7703}, journal = {International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy}, keywords = {GPs asthma care communication community comparison general ireland myown nurses pharmacists pharmacy practice practitioners}, language = {English}, number = 1, pages = {202-203}, publisher = {Springer Netherlands}, timestamp = {2013-07-31T21:49:31.000+0200}, title = {A comparison of asthma care by general practitioners and practice nurses and their communication with community pharmacists in Ireland. (ESCP 40th International Symposium on Clinical Pharmacy. Clinical Pharmacy: Connecting Care and Outcomes Dublin Ireland, 19–21 October 2011.)}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11096-011-9602-2}, volume = 34, year = 2012 }