Childhood asthma management in primary care: Implementation of exhaled nitric oxide and spirometry testing (CHAMPIONS study)

This is designed as an implementation study for the proposed NICE guideline of asthma diagnosis in children with suspected asthma, which will employ both qualitative and quantitative measures. Focus group meetings using semi-structured interviews will be held at each participating practice during which time the study team will identify the training needs required to implement the new NICE recommendations into practice at each site. We will then develop and refine a package of training and support that will be based on an existing training programme for primary care practitioners to perform spirometry on adult patients with COPD in Leicestershire primary care practices.  We evaluated the success of the training by supporting and monitoring the primary care practitioners utilising these tests in primary care asthma review clinics.

We have conducted analyses to quantify the resources and costs required to implement the NICE guideline, and the impacts on children’s health-related quality of life.