Abstract
Introduction:
The BTS/SIGN guideline recommends oxygen saturation (SaO2) monitoring as an objective measure of acute asthma severity, particularly in children, in both primary and secondary care. We assessed the availability and use of SaO2 monitoring for acute asthma assessment in primary care.
Methods:
Fax and telephone questionnaire of Primary Care services in the Edinburgh region to assess use of SaO2 monitoring in the past 24 months, in association with a 24-month retrospective assessment of A&E attendances with acute wheeze. Children over 12 months of age registered with eligible general practices attending A&E with wheeze and/or asthma were included.
Results:
There were replies from 103 general practices (100%) and eight Out-of-hours cooperatives (100%). Oxygen saturation monitoring was available in four general practices (3.9%) and three Out-of-hours cooperatives (37.5%). 1408 children attended A&E with wheeze/asthma, 721 referred by primary care. Oxygen saturation monitoring was available to 7.9% of A&E attendees from primary care, but documented in only 1.8% of primary care referrals.
Conclusions:
SaO2 monitoring is not widely available in primary care and is infrequently used for the assessment of acute asthma. SaO2 measurement as an adjunct to clinical assessment of asthma in primary care needs encouragement.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cunningham, S., McMurray, A. The availability and use of oxygen saturation monitoring in primary care in order to assess asthma severity. Prim Care Respir J 15, 98–101 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcrj.2006.01.005
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcrj.2006.01.005
This article is cited by
-
Pulsoximetrie: indicaties en observaties bij COPD
Huisarts en wetenschap (2010)
-
Voortaan bij de patiënt op bed
Huisarts en wetenschap (2010)