The ADxDA Feasibility Study Phase 3
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study to assess the uptake, usefulness and acceptability of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) to improve asthma diagnosis in primary care
IRAS ID
293140
Contact name
Hilary Pinnock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 29 days
Research summary
Asthma is common in the UK but can be difficult to diagnose. Asthma is, by definition, a variable condition which means test results will differ depending on whether the patient is symptomatic or not at the time. All symptoms/signs/objective tests for asthma have significant false positives and false negatives rates. This means that ultimately, the diagnosis is based on probabilities not certainties. Speaking about this diagnostic uncertainty with patients and parents can be challenging for clinicians.
Without an accurate diagnosis, people with asthma may not receive the treatment they need. When incorrectly diagnosed it means patients taking medication they don’t need, which can be harmful. Most people in the UK with asthma are diagnosed by GPs and nurses in general practice. One way of improving the accuracy of an asthma diagnosis, or ruling it out, is to improve the decision systems currently used to diagnose the condition in general practice.
Through interviewing primary care clinicians and asthma patients, we have designed computer software aimed at helping GPs and nurses make more informed diagnostic decisions around asthma. This is called a clinical decision support system (CDSS). The CDSS will also help patients and parents of young patients to better understand the diagnostic processes involved in asthma. We have developed a prototype CDSS so that it is accessible to GPs and nurses in general practice. But we need to test how it’s used in everyday practice.
We are therefore conducting research to (a) evaluate data used from a prototype CDSS in participating GP practices and (b) explore the perceived usefulness and acceptability of the prototype CDSS amongst primary care clinicians and patients.
Our study will use mixed methods, qualitative interviews with clinicians and patients/parents of asthma patients and structured questionnaires to assess clinicians’ and patients’ experiences of the prototype asthma CDSS.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0080
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion