ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at an audit of asthma, focusing on outcomes for patients. The start of the audit cycle is to define standards and criteria. Asthma management may be deficient in both hospital and primary care settings. An asthma clinic is one way in which data can be collected on patients, their disease and its management, together with outcome measures to indicate the success of treatment e.g. peak flow, days lost from work or school. Good practice in asthma management requires standards to be set against which current practice can be measured. The British Thoracic Society has set down clear guidelines on the management of asthma. Data collection and monitoring the success of management have become more widespread through payments for Chronic Disease Management Clinics and the requirements for audit to take place for payment to be made. A number of outcome-based measures were recorded, using the Tayside Asthma Stamp.
