Asthma Management in Primary Care Settings
Summary
Asthma management in primary care encompasses early diagnosis, regular assessment, personalised therapy, patient education and long-term monitoring. Primary care practitioners prioritise symptom control, minimising exacerbations and preserving lung function through a stepped approach to pharmacotherapy. Central to this strategy are inhaled corticosteroids, bronchodilators and adjunctive agents chosen according to severity and control. Routine consultations enable assessment of inhaler technique, adherence and environmental triggers, alongside patient-centred self-management plans to empower individuals in recognising worsening symptoms and adjusting treatment. Integration of guideline-based care within electronic health records fosters consistency in prescription, monitoring and follow-up, while multidisciplinary collaboration with nurses, pharmacists and community services enhances education and support. Globally, comprehensive primary care management reduces hospital admissions and healthcare costs, and improves quality of life. Recent emphasis on digital tools, decision support and data linkage promises to further strengthen tailored interventions and efficient resource allocation within diverse healthcare settings.
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Asthma Management in Primary Care Settings publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in asthma management in primary care settings across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Asthma exacerbation: An acute or subacute worsening of symptoms characterised by increased breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness and cough requiring change in treatment.
Inhaled corticosteroids: Anti-inflammatory medications delivered directly to the airways to reduce bronchial hyperresponsiveness and prevent exacerbations.
Stepped approach: A structured treatment protocol in which therapy intensity is increased or decreased based on ongoing assessment of asthma control.
Electronic health record (EHR): Digital system for storing and accessing patient health information, enabling integrated documentation, monitoring and clinical decision support.
Clinical decision support (CDS) tool: Software that provides clinicians with patient-specific information and evidence-based recommendations to enhance decision-making at the point of care.
References
- Artificial intelligence-assisted clinical decision support for childhood asthma management: A randomized clinical trial. PLOS ONE (2021).
- Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of the Primary Care Asthma Paediatric Pathway: a qualitative analysis. BMJ Open (2022).
- Development of a Clinical Decision Support Tool to Implement Asthma Management Guidelines in Pediatric Primary Care: Qualitative Study. JMIR Formative Research (2025).
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