Can J Emerg Med
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Multicentre evaluation of an emergency department asthma care pathway for adults.
We sought to determine whether a standardized emergency department (ED) asthma care pathway (ACP) for adults would be accepted by ED staff, improve adherence to Canadian ED asthma management guidelines and improve patient outcomes. ⋯ Adoption of a standardized ED ACP for adults is highly variable. Despite modest uptake, which averaged 26%, beneficial changes in specific aspects of asthma care delivery were found, notably in referrals and recollection of teaching done during the ED visit, without a substantial increase in ED length of stay. These changes may lead to improvements in outcomes, such as reduced relapse rates, which this study was not designed or powered to detect. Provincial and national implementation strategies that address barriers to clinical pathway adoption are warranted and have the potential to improve adherence to guidelines and outcomes for asthma patients.