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Models of chronic disease management in primary care for patients with mild-to-moderate asthma or COPD: a narrative review

Josephine M Cranston, Alan J Crockett, John R Moss, Robert W Pegram and Nigel P Stocks
Med J Aust 2008; 188 (8): S50. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01744.x
Published online: 21 April 2008

Abstract

Objective: To review the literature for any promising strategies for the primary care management of mild-to-moderate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults.

Methods: Using “MeSH” terms for COPD, asthma and primary health care, we conducted an extensive literature search for relevant meta-analyses, systematic reviews, narrative reviews, reports and individual studies. Grey literature was also included. We chose a narrative review approach because of substantial heterogeneity of study designs in the literature.

Results: 1119 articles of potential relevance were retained, of which 246 were included in our review. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether general practitioners with a special interest (GPwSI) in respiratory care improved the diagnosis and management of mild-to-moderate COPD. An asthma service involving GPwSI increased respiratory drug costs but reduced the costs for less specific drugs. No clear benefit has been shown for practice nurse-run asthma clinics in primary care compared with usual care in altering asthma morbidity, quality of life, lung function or medication use. Evidence to determine the effectiveness of practice nurse-run COPD clinics could not be found. Self-management education, GP review and action plans may produce short-term benefits for asthma patients, particularly those with moderate-to-severe disease, but the evidence for a similar approach to patients with mild-to-moderate COPD is equivocal. There has been poor uptake of respiratory clinical guidelines relevant to primary care — partly because most guidelines are based on moderate-to-severe disease. Spirometry programs in primary care are useful for differential diagnosis of asthma and COPD. Spirometry may alter the management of mild asthma, but there is a lack of evidence that it alters the management of COPD in primary care.

Conclusion: The role of primary health care in management of mild-to-moderate asthma and COPD requires further investigation using randomised controlled trials.

We report summary information from a narrative review of models of chronic disease management for mild-to-moderate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults in primary care. We chose a narrative review approach because the substantial heterogeneity of study designs in the literature precluded a meta-analysis. A narrative review is a process of synthesising primary studies to explore heterogeneity descriptively rather than statistically.1

Mild-to-moderate asthma and COPD are significant health problems that require the development of interventions aimed at moderating their progress into seriously disabling conditions. Primary health care, with general practice providing a central role, is the first and often only point of contact for patients with these conditions within the Australian health system.2,3 Thus, primary care is where the best current opportunity exists to modify the natural history of the disease process before serious ill health and disability become established. In addition, health care programs and initiatives designed to detect and manage mild-to-moderate chronic illness can be recognised and evaluated to determine their uptake, effectiveness and cost, and provide an evidence base for future health care.

We focused on the disease-specific level, although some of the programs studied have been used more widely in the community for the management of other chronic illnesses. As we wished to focus on Australian general practice in its current organisational form, we have not included a discussion of large integrated health care and Health Maintenance Organizations such as Evercare or Kaiser Permanente in the United States.4-6 We also excluded hospital-centred generic models of care, as we wanted to highlight the mild-to-moderate end of the disease spectrum and its early identification and management.7 Interventions relevant to severe lung disease, such as home oxygen therapy, discharge planning, hospital-at-home or mechanical ventilation, are provided predominantly by secondary and tertiary health care facilities, and so were not considered. A review of Australian national and state/territory level initiatives in primary health care with critical issues identified has previously been performed.8

Our aim was to assess whether models of chronic disease management, when applied in primary care, can lead to the recognition of risk factors and the early detection, diagnosis and management of asthma and COPD, enabling the implementation of evidence-based strategies that may potentially alter the future disease burden.

Methods

We developed a broad literature search strategy based on exploded “MeSH” terms for COPD, asthma and primary health care. We conducted an extensive search of the literature, including grey literature. Models of chronic disease management were identified and the literature pertaining to the various models of care was considered for possible inclusion in the review. Because of the heterogeneity of the studies identified, we employed a narrative approach to critically appraise and summarise the literature, in the same way as did other studies conducted by the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI).1 Using our best judgement, we analysed conclusions of meta-analyses, systematic reviews, narrative reviews, reports and individual studies in order to support or refute the proposition expressed in the aim of our study. Secondary research questions were subsequently developed under the four domains of organisation, implementation/evaluation, funding/costs and service delivery to form a framework for the review. For the purpose of the current brief overview, we extracted the most salient findings from our in-depth review.2

Results

The following topics were recognised as current areas of debate in primary care and hence were given priority in our review:

From 2762 citations, 1119 citations of potential relevance were retained and subjected to secondary searches to identify evidence relevant to the topics reviewed. After the second culling process, 246 articles remained for inclusion in our review (Box). (A full list of the articles can be accessed on the APHCRI website2).

  • Josephine M Cranston1
  • Alan J Crockett1
  • John R Moss1
  • Robert W Pegram2
  • Nigel P Stocks1

  • 1 School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA.
  • 2 Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, Adelaide, SA.



Acknowledgements: 

Our review was supported by a grant from the APHCRI, Stream 4. We wish to acknowledge the helpful comments provided by GPs, both within Australia and overseas.

Competing interests:

None identified.

  • 1. Glasgow NJ, Marley JE, Kristjanson LJ, et al. Bringing evidence to bear on policy processes: the challenge of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute. Med J Aust 2008; 188 (8 Suppl): S46-S49. <eMJA full text>
  • 2. Cranston JM, Crockett AJ, Moss JR, et al. Models of chronic disease management in primary care for patients with mild to moderate asthma or COPD. Canberra: Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, 2006. http://www.anu.edu.au/aphcri/Domain/ChronicDiseaseMgmt/Final_1_Crockett.pdf (accessed Jan 2008).
  • 3. Australian Divisions of General Practice. Chronic disease management. http://www.adgp.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=333 (accessed Jan 2008).
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  • 12. Pilotto L, Smith B, Heard A, et al. Trial of nurse-run asthma clinics based in general practice versus usual medical care. Respirology 2004; 9: 356-362.
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