The role of asthma link nurses for schools.

Debra Forster and Claire Winser discuss how collaborative working in an asthma service has improved the care of children with asthma in Nottingham.

Asthma management.

The UK is considered to have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality among children and adults with asthma in Europe. According to the National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD), 28 children died in the UK between February 2012 and January 2013 because of asthma. Most of these deaths would be considered preventable by respiratory specialists.

The asthma files: evaluation of a multimedia package for children's asthma education.

Children's knowledge of asthma triggers and the impact on children's knowledge of using 'The Asthma Files', an interactive, educational computer program, were evaluated in this pilot study. Thirty-one children aged between seven and 14 years and diagnosed with asthma were recruited to the study. Ten boys participated in evaluating the triggers section and a questionnaire was used to determine their feelings about the program and retention of information. Children enjoyed using the package and knowledge about asthma triggers increased significantly. 'The Asthma Files' shows promise as an additional tool to augment existing education.

Developing a spirometry protocol for children and young people.

The practicalities of obtaining technically acceptable spirometry results with children and young people demand a protocol that follows national guidance and is adjusted to local conditions. Although there is guidance for adults, to date there has been no equivalent for children and young people. The procedural structure should be developed to include consistent standards and values, acknowledgement of contraindications, competence of the testing procedure among clinicians, and constant recalibration and cleaning of equipment. Only if these requirements are met can the results be valid.

The RCPCH care pathway for children with venom allergies: an evidence and consensus based national approach.

AIMS: The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) Science & Research Department was commissioned by the Department of Health to develop national care pathways for children with allergies; the venom allergy pathway is the seventh pathway. The pathways focus on defining the competences to improve the equity of care received by children with allergic conditions. METHOD: The RCPCH venom allergy pathway was developed by a multidisciplinary working group and was based on a comprehensive review of evidence. The pathway was reviewed by a broad group of stakeholders including the public and approved by the Allergy Care Pathways Project Board and the RCPCH Clinical Standards Committee. RESULTS: The pathway results are presented in four parts: evidence review, mapping, external review and core knowledge documents. The entry points are defined and the ideal pathway of care is described from self-care through to follow-up. The evidence highlighted that venom immunotherapy is safe and effective for bee and wasp allergy and that there are real quality of life benefits for patients. The review also highlighted the value of measuring serum tryptase after reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The venom allergy pathway provides a guide for training and development of services to facilitate improvements in delivery as close to the patient's home as possible. The authors recommend that this pathway should be implemented locally by a multidisciplinary team with a focus on creating networks between primary, secondary and tertiary care to improve services for children with allergic conditions.

The RCPCH care pathway for children with drug allergies: an evidence and consensus based national approach.

AIMS: The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) was commissioned by the Department of Health to develop a drug allergy pathway. It focuses on defining the competences to improve the equity of care received by children. METHOD: The drug pathway was developed by a multidisciplinary working group and was based on a comprehensive review of evidence. The team decided to focus on IgE-mediated reactions as these have the greatest potential to be life-threatening. RESULTS: The results are presented in four parts: evidence review, pathway mapping, external review and core knowledge documents. The evidence review found a high percentage of putative penicillin allergy is not confirmed by objective testing and that resensitisation to ß-lactam drugs was infrequent. It also highlighted the importance of a detailed history and accurate diagnosis along with clear communication of test results to both family and primary care. CONCLUSIONS: This pathway demonstrates the spectrum of drug allergy is varied and may differ for young children compared with older children and adults. The authors highlight the paucity of evidence to support allergy testing for most drugs, in children, other than supervised incremental provocation tests (when indicated). Acute presentations require emergency health professionals to address underlying allergic issues, including recognition and avoidance of potential drug allergy triggers. Non-acute presentations may include multi-system symptoms which may have a broad differential diagnosis; this document signposts to the relevant partners in the RCPCH care pathway portfolio. Management combines a care package including a definitive diagnosis, initiating treatments and ongoing education.

The RCPCH care pathway for children with latex allergies: an evidence- and consensus-based national approach.

AIMS: The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) Science and Research Department was commissioned by the Department of Health to develop national care pathways for children with allergies; the latex allergy pathway is the seventh pathway. The pathways focus on defining the competences to improve the equity of care received by children with allergic conditions. METHOD: The RCPCH latex allergy pathway was developed by a multidisciplinary working group and was based on a comprehensive review of evidence. The pathway was reviewed by a broad group of stakeholders including the public and approved by the Allergy Care Pathways Project Board and the RCPCH Clinical Standards Committee. RESULTS: The results are presented in four parts, the evidence review, pathway mapping, external review and core knowledge documents. The evidence review highlighted the paucity of recent evidence for latex allergy in childhood. The review found that the diagnostic sensitivity of different latex extracts for skin-prick testing may differ. It also noted that health professionals should be aware of latex allergy, and care should be taken to avoid contact with latex in young infants, especially when there is a family history for latex allergy. The pathway entry points are defined by the severity at presentation. CONCLUSIONS: The latex allergy pathway provides a guide for training and development of services to facilitate improvements in delivery as close to the patients home as possible. The authors recommend that this pathway is implemented locally by a multidisciplinary team with a focus on creating networks between primary, secondary and tertiary care to improve services for children with allergic conditions.

A randomized, controlled trial of an interactive educational computer package for children with asthma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact and acceptability of an educational multimedia program designed to promote self-management skills in children with asthma. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial with measures at baseline and 1- and 6-month follow-up. The trial was conducted in pediatric outpatient respiratory clinics in 3 United Kingdom hospitals. Participants included 101 children aged 7 to 14 years under the care of hospital-based asthma services. The children were randomly assigned to receive an asthma information booklet alone or the booklet plus The Asthma Files, an interactive CD-ROM for children with asthma. Asthma knowledge was the primary outcome measure. Other measures included asthma locus of control, lung function, use of oral steroids, and school absence. RESULTS: At the 1-month follow-up (n = 99), children in the computer group had improved knowledge compared with the control group and a more internal locus of control. There were no differences in objective lung-function measures, hospitalizations, or oral steroid use. The study participants were positive in their evaluation of the intervention. At the 6-month follow-up (n = 90), significantly fewer children in the intervention group had required oral steroids and had had time off school for asthma in the previous 6 months. The difference did not reach statistical significance in the intention-to-treat analysis for both steroid use and school absence. CONCLUSION: The Asthma Files was found to be an effective and popular health education tool for promoting asthma self-management skills within pediatric care.