Research objectives

Respiratory liaison nurses are being increasingly used in hospital management of asthma patients, but there has been little evaluation of discharge planning by controlled randomised studies. The proposed controlled study is carried out in all medical wards (respiratory and non-respiratory) in a major teaching hospital. It assesses whether a protocol for discharge planning used by a trained respiratory nurse can improve clinical management, patient outcomes and GP-hospital exchange of information.

The study randomises patients to intervention or control group and assesses, at month 1 and 12 months after discharge, symptom free days, quality of life, re-admission and emergency attendance's, attitudes and beliefs about asthma, self care and satisfaction with hospital care. There will also be a telephone follow-up assessing morbidity at 6 months. GP satisfaction with the information provided through discharge planning, and its use in GP follow-up is also assessed. Clinical outcomes, morbidity and patient resource use are used to estimate the cost effectiveness of discharge planning.

For further information contact

Dr James Friend
Consultant Physician
University of Aberdeen
Chest Clinic (Clinic C)
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN
UK.

Return to Commissioned Research: Ongoing Projects