Content and outcomes of Dutch nurse clinics for children with asthma

Dutch specialist asthma nurses run extramural and transmural nurse clinics for children with asthma. Extramural clinics are run under the responsibili ty and in the premises of a home care organization. Transmural clinics are run in an outpatient clinic in close collaboration and joint responsibility between home care organizations and hospitals. Effects of and differences between these clinics were determined by using a quasi-experimental design. Visiting a nurse clinic appears to result in a reduced information need and reduced use of health care services. Parents o f asthmatic children visiting transmural nurse clinics appeared to have a l ower information need than those attending extramural nurse clinics.