Organisation of asthma care in primary health care in Mid-Sweden

Abstract

Aim:

To investigate the organisation of asthma care in 240 primary health care centres (PHCCs) in Mid-Sweden.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study. Main outcomes were occurrence and structure of nurse-based asthma clinics according to nationally recommended criteria, and access and use of spirometers.

Results:

238 PHCCs (99%) responded. 16% reported a complete, and 37% an incomplete, asthma clinic. 47% of PHCCs had no asthma clinic. The incomplete asthma clinics usually lacked sufficient asthma nurse time, a scheduled nurse surgery and a responsible GP. 77% of the PHCCs had access to a spirometer and on average 19 spirometries/1000 inhabitants/year were performed. There was a large variation in the use of spirometers.

Conclusion:

Half of the PHCCs had an asthma clinic and a majority had access to a spirometer. More frequent use of spirometry and increased time provision for the asthma nurse would be likely to produce a substantial improvement in the standard of asthma care in primary health care.

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