RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A qualitative study of the barriers facing primary healthcare professionals in identifying occupational asthma JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP PA1896 DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA1896 VO 58 IS suppl 65 A1 Gareth Walters A1 Christopher Michael Barber YR 2021 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA1896.abstract AB Introduction: Occupational asthma (OA) remains under-recognized, leading to poor health and employment outcomes for affected workers. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) in primary care and acute hospitals rarely enquire about asthma symptoms and work, with poor knowledge, training, and time resource cited as explanations; this has not been studied in depth. We aimed to explore beliefs and behaviours amongst primary HCPs, which may present barriers to identifying OA.Methods: Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, we undertook semi-structured interviews with HCPs from urban and rural practices in the West Midlands, UK. All interviews were held face to face and captured using a digital Dictaphone; audio recordings were transcribed professionally. GW undertook open coding of the data and thematic analysis, with CB acting as a critical friend.Results: 11 HCPs (7 GPs, 4 practice nurses) with a range of experience (4-34 years) were interviewed. Four themes impacting on whether HCPs were likely to suspect and investigate OA were identified: (1) training and experience, (2) perceptions and beliefs, (3) systems constraints, and (4) variation in individual practice. HCPs described limited subject-specific formal education at any career stage, limited experience, and perceived low occurrence of OA in their practice. Extrinsic factors limiting enquiry were: continuity of care, time, workload, guideline use, external targets, and referral pressures.Conclusion: Individual practice, and the organisation and service delivery of UK primary care, may impede the early identification of OA. Educational interventions should target all stages of training and professional development.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA1896.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).