BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic catalysed unprecedented changes to healthcare delivery in Australia, leading to a rapid transformation of asthma management, to which healthcare providers and patients have had to adapt. Understanding the impact of these changes is critical as we emerge from pandemic-affected workflows. METHOD: A qualitative study using semistructured interviews was conducted with 19 general practitioners across Sydney and regional New South Wales. Reflexive thematic analysis of interview data was undertaken. RESULTS: Four key themes were identified: disorganised asthma care before COVID19; chaotic asthma care during the pandemic; adapting to non-guideline-driven telehealth asthma care; and widening health agenda misalignment. DISCUSSION: This study highlights the triumphs and gaps in asthma management during the pandemic and the vulnerability of existing asthma care systems to disruption. These lessons can be used to re-evaluate how we deliver asthma care and inform future models of care as we transition towards a 'post-COVID' landscape.
Asthma , COVID-19 , General Practice , Qualitative Research , Humans , Asthma/therapy , COVID-19/therapy , General Practice/methods , Telemedicine/methods , SARS-CoV-2 , New South Wales , Interviews as Topic/methods , Female , Male , Australia , Pandemics , Delivery of Health Care/methods
