Abstract
Background: A clinical decision support system (CDSS) embedded in general practice systems may be a useful strategy to reduce the current high rates of mis-diagnosis of asthma.
Aims: To explore the views of GPs and nurses on the design and content of an asthma CDSS and to investigate how it could routinely be used in UK primary care.
Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with clinicians with a varied duration of professional experience and from socio-economically deprived/affluent and urban/rural GP practice areas. We gathered clinicians’ views on current challenges in diagnosing asthma, asthma risk factors, and facilitators/barriers to using a CDSS routinely. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.
Results: We recruited nine GPs and seven nurses. Emergent themes were (i) asthma is often difficult to diagnose, frequently requiring repeated tests and consultations over time causing frustration to patients; (ii) to encourage routine use, the CDSS must be simple to use, easy to access, not time-consuming, and connected to existing NHS software; (iii) automatically identified asthma risk factors within the proposed algorithm were particularly useful; (iv) a patient-facing mode within the CDSS could facilitate screen-sharing, patient engagement in the diagnostic process and support self-management.
Conclusions: The idea of a CDSS was welcomed by clinicians, but needed to be integrated and intuitive if it is to be used. Auto-population of information from a patient’s electronic record was particularly valued. Facilitating shared diagnosis-making is novel, but was generally welcomed.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3633.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021