Effect of hospital asthma nurse appointment on inpatient asthma care

While asthma nurses are funded by many health authorities within the U.K. N ational Health Service, for the improvement of clinical management in both inpatient and outpatient settings in secondary care, the effect of asthma n urse appointment on acute asthma care in hospitalized children has been ina dequately studied. Here, we test the hypothesis that the employment of a fu ll-time hospital asthma nurse improves quality of carl for children admitte d to hospital with acute asthma. Prospective in design, the study compares analyses of indicators of good cl inical practice for hospitalized asthmatic children (2-16 yrs) before and a fter the appointment of a hospital asthma nurse. Both management [oxygen saturation check (35/106 vs. 111/126, P<0.05)] and discharge planning [self management plan/asthma education (17/106 vs. 49/12 6, P<0.05), follow-up arrangements with general practice(8/106 vs. 25/126, P<0.05)] improved. There was, however, no significant change in oral steroi d administration, peak flow check, inhaler technique assessment, inhaled dr ug prophylaxis or arrangements for hospital follow-up at discharge. Employment of a hospital-based children's asthma nurse leads to significant improvement in aspects of routine in-patient asthma management. However, o ther important areas of in-patient asthma care did not improve following nu rse-led interventions. A clearer evidence base may improve compliance with asthma management guidelines, and could make the role of hospital asthma nu rse mon effective.