Development of a Rural Asthma Management Model, RAMM

Abstract

The prevalence of asthma in Australia is increasing and places a significant cost burden on the community as well as reducing individuals' quality of life. In the late 1990s, asthma was the sixth National Health Priority in Australia and the prevalence of asthma in the Loddon Mallee region (LMR) of Victoria was approximately 1% higher than the State average. Four LMR local government areas had close to double the State average hospital admission ratios for asthma. The aim of this project was to develop a Regional Asthma Management Model (RAMM) and strategies for its implementation throughout the LMR, as a tool to implement a major health priority of both the Victorian State and Australian Commonwealth governments: to improve health outcomes for people with asthma. A literature review was undertaken to identify best practice in asthma management for use as the basis of questions in workbooks designed to profile and compare current asthma management practice in the LMR. The workbooks were sent to all acute hospitals, community health centres and asthma educators in the LMR. The completed workbooks were returned and respondents elaborated on the workbook data at one of five subregional workshops. A survey was also undertaken to identify the range of asthma management strategies currently used by regional general practitioners (GPs) and to invite their views on ways to improve asthma management in the region. To gain consumer input into the RAMM a semi-structured group interview was held in an urban area and individual interviews were held in two rural areas in the region. A multidisciplinary reference group provided guidance to the project and a documentation design team was convened. Of the 19 workbooks sent to individual acute hospitals, 15 (78.9%) were completed and returned; 13 of 14 workbooks (92.8%) sent to individual community health centres were completed and returned. Fourteen of 15 asthma educators identified in the LMR were employed in the acute hospitals and community health centres that returned the workbooks; one asthma educator worked privately. Of the 215 GP surveys distributed, 38 surveys (17.6%) were returned. The majority of this small sample of GPs supported developing a uniform regional approach to asthma management based on NAC guidelines. Consumers interviewed suggested treating doctors, and/or EDs provide patients and carers with written instructions regarding acute asthma attacks and advice on management strategies for the ensuing 24-48 hours. A regional profile of asthma management practice was produced and compared with identified best practice. Gaps in practice and services were identified and responsive recommendations formulated. The National Asthma Campaign (NAC) guidelines were used as the basis for RAMM documentation, a package which consisted of a Regional Asthma Clinical Pathway and Emergency Department (ED) Package. The RAMM developed during the project provides documentation to assist best-practice asthma management by regional EDs and acute hospitals. The methodology and outcomes of the RAMM reflect the geography of the region, with multiple service providers from different locations managing a person with asthma across the primary, secondary and tertiary continuum. The RAMM methodology has the potential to be applied to other diseases and to other rural environments. Although the RAMM was designed for rural areas it could be easily adapted to suit the metropolitan environment. Implementation and evaluation of RAMM documentation is in progress.