The AsthmaID Tool in Singapore: Four Simple Questions to Detect Patients in need of an Asthma Review by a Specialist

ABSTRACT

@#A rising prevalence of asthma in Singapore translates to a more considerable patient care burden for general practitioners. Along with diagnosing and managing the treatment of asthma, general practitioners must recognise when referral to a respiratory specialist is necessary. Although mild to moderate asthma is generally manageable in the primary care setting, patients with poorly controlled, difficult-to-treat, or severe asthma may benefit from referral to a specialist. Currently, many of these patients are not receiving optimal care, which places them at risk of asthma exacerbations and unnecessary systemic corticosteroid use. AsthmaID was developed as a tool for general practitioners to identify patients with asthma for whom a specialist evaluation could help improve asthma symptom control and optimise treatment strategies. Using four questions developed by asthma experts and rooted in the Global Initiative for Asthma report, AsthmaID quickly identifies patients who may benefit from a specialist referral without requiring additional patient assessments or testing modalities. Implementation of AsthmaID in clinical practice has the potential to transform the patient care pathway, thereby improving the quality of care for patients with asthma.