To examine ways to improve the diagnosis and management of asthma in children, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) collaborated with its Improving Childhood Asthma Management (ICAM) partners to host the 2024 ICAM symposium at Sunshine Hospital.
The event took place on 7 September 2024
The symposium attracted 52 attendees, including general practitioners, practice nurses, hospital staff and allied health professionals. It featured an overview of the ICAM program, and the opportunity to share evidence-based strategies for improving asthma care across Melbourne’s inner west.
Feedback showed that 100 per cent of attendees would recommend the event to colleagues, and 77 per cent indicated they would make changes to their practice as a result of what they learned.
“The willingness to engage in collaborative, multidisciplinary asthma care that was displayed during the symposium is another thing that will have a great impact on childhood asthma in our region,” says facilitator, Forsyth Park Medical Centre’s Dr Kirsty Tamis.
Dr Tamis reflected on the value of the symposium, saying, “Colleagues from across Victoria sharing stories and management ideas, having hands-on opportunities to see new inhaler therapies, and writing out cohesive action plans makes a lasting change to clinical practice.”
Comments from attendees included:
- “This will help me lead evidence-based asthma care and education in our practice.”
- “The content and breakout rooms clarified learning needs and answered outstanding questions.”
The symposium provided participants with practical knowledge and tools to enhance asthma care. Highlights included:
- Practical techniques: Participants learned about using spacers and inhalers, completing asthma action plans, and managing asthma across developmental stages.
- Community-focused care: Resources and tools from DPV Health and cohealth’s community asthma programs empowered families. One attendee commented: “Learning how to find resources for myself and patients was invaluable.”
- Thunderstorm asthma preparedness: Many felt better equipped to handle this seasonal challenge. “The public health lecture on thunderstorm asthma was fascinating and passionate,” shared one participant.
For those who couldn’t attend, here are some key action points:
- Update your knowledge: Explore resources such as HealthPathways Melbourne and the Royal Children’s Hospital Asthma Guidelines. Major changes include updates to diagnosis, early preventer management, and stopping oral steroid use in the community for children under five.
- Review asthma action plans regularly: Complete plans thoroughly and base review dates on clinical need, not the school year.
- Implement SMART therapy: Follow Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines for patients aged 12 and above by using a Symbicort Turbuhaler. This approach improves adherence and removes the need for a separate reliever.
- Leverage community resources: Incorporate community asthma programs into care plans to support patients under 18.
- Manage allergies: Address co-existing allergies and hay fever to reduce asthma triggers, particularly during spring. Encourage patients to download the VicEmergency and Melbourne Pollen apps for alerts.
- Reassess asthma diagnoses: Consider “undiagnosing” asthma in children who have been symptom-free for 12 months. Explore other potential causes, such as anxiety or fitness levels.
Continuing the conversation
To support paediatric patients with asthma, clinicians are encouraged to:
- Attend ICAM community of practice sessions online (events will be posted on the NWMPHN website).
- Refer patients to local community asthma programs. DPV Health and cohealth provide these services in the NWMPHN region. Find out more on our website.
- Stay informed about the latest changes in paediatric asthma care via HealthPathways Melbourne.
The ICAM program, led by the Victorian Government in partnership with Safer Care Victoria, cohealth, and the National Asthma Council, remains focused on strengthening care pathways and improving asthma management across Melbourne’s inner west.
The program has also been highly commended at the 2024 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards, recognised for ‘combining systems thinking and improvement science to improve outcomes in paediatric asthma’.
Resources
- Access symposium resources here.
- Find out more about the ICAM program here.
- Watch 2023 community of practice session recordings on our website.
