Spirometry is a recommended component of asthma diagnosis and treatment in the primary care setting, however, few primary care providers report routine use of spirometry in the provision of care for their asthma patients. Even when spirometry is used to aid in asthma severity classification, primary care providers have a high rate of failing to meet the quality goals for testing established by the American Thoracic Society. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtually delivered quality improvement (QI) program. The program is designed to train primary care providers and their medical staff in the use of spirometry to improve pediatric primary care management for children with asthma.
A cluster randomized trial with matched practice pairs. All practices receive a spirometer and standard vendor training. Those randomized to the intervention group receive a 7-month QI program, which includes: 1. Spirometry Fundamentals™ CD-ROM; 2. Case-based, interactive webinars; and 3. an Internet-based spirometry quality feedback reporting system.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
36
Sites in the intervention arm receive the virtually delivered QI program. The program includes: 1. Spirometry Fundamentals™ CD-ROM, a computer-based CD-ROM training program that teaches primary care providers and their staff techniques required to perform high-quality spirometry tests, and proper interpretation of spirometric data; 2. Case-based, interactive webinars; and 3. an Internet-based spirometry quality feedback reporting system.
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States
Spirometry test quality
Percentage of acceptable quality spirometry tests as determined by standards set by the American Thoracic Society.
Time frame: Seven months
Presence of asthma care plan
To assess whether exposure to the virtually delivered quality improvement (QI) program increases the frequency with which written asthma action plans are completed.
Time frame: Seven months
Asthma severity documentation
To assess whether exposure to the virtually delivered quality improvement (QI) program increases the frequency with which asthma severity is appropriately documented.
Time frame: Seven months
Appropriate prescription of controller therapy
To assess whether exposure to the virtually delivered quality improvement (QI) program increases the frequency with which appropriate controller therapy is prescribed.
Time frame: Seven months
Frequency of office-based spirometry
To test whether exposure to the virtually delivered quality improvement (QI) program increases the frequency with which office-based spirometry is used in the management of children with asthma.
Time frame: Seven months
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