CARE OF ASTHMATICS ON DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL - A HOSPITAL AUDIT

The objective of this study was to audit the care of patients after di scharge from hospital, following admission for acute severe asthma, us ing the British Thoracic Society guidelines (1) as a standard. Dischar ge prescriptions and question nai res sent to patients al home were an alyzed for 51 patients who had been admitted to a teaching hospital wi th acute severe asthma. Main outcome measures were Peak flow measureme nts written instructions, prescription of steroids, and outpatient fol low-up. Of the 34 patients responding to the questionnaires, 15 (44%) had no peak flow meter, 23 (68%) had no written instructions, 13 (38%) had no supply of oral steroids at home, and 32 (94%) were prescribed a beta-agonist regularly of whom 12 (35%) were not on an inhaled stero id. Four (9%) patients were not followed up as outpatients; appointmen ts ranged from 2 to 56 days following discharge. In over 60% of asthma tic patients discharged from hospital the guidelines recommended by th e British Thoracic Society were not followed. The method used is an in expensive, efficient way of auditing hospital practice.