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Primary Care Respiratory Journal
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Asthma Programme in Finland: High consensus between general practitioners and pulmonologists on the contents of an asthma referral letter
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  • Article
  • Published: December 2004

Asthma Programme in Finland: High consensus between general practitioners and pulmonologists on the contents of an asthma referral letter

  • Leena Tuomisto1,
  • Marina Erhola2,3,
  • Minna Kaila4,5,
  • Pirkko E. Brander6,
  • Hannu Puolijoki1,
  • Ritva Kauppinen7 &
  • …
  • Kaj Koskela2 na1 

Primary Care Respiratory Journal volume 13, pages 205–210 (2004)Cite this article

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  • 7 Citations

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Abstract

Aims:

The purpose of the present study was to define quality criteria for an asthma referral letter using a national co-operative effort between general practitioners and pulmonologists.

Methods:

A consensus-seeking expert panel representing primary and secondary health care merged evidence from the literature and existing national and local asthma programmes to produce 19 provisional criteria to be included in an asthma referral letter. These criteria were contained within a national questionnaire review which was sent out to groups of Finnish physicians. The target groups for the review were all chief pulmonologists in specialist care (n = 32), and representatives of all Finnish health centres (n = 283) - either the chief physician (n = 143) or the local asthma co-ordinating physician (n = 140).

Results:

The overall response rate to the national questionnaire study was 75%. The three groups of responding physicians had very similar gradings on the necessity of the 19 provisional criteria, most of which were considered very necessary. 14 final disease-specific criteria for an asthma referral letter were derived as a result of this study.

Conclusion:

The main result of this study is an agreed data set of essential information that needs to be included in an asthma referral letter. Importantly these criteria were developed by general practitioners and pulmonologists together.

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Author information

Author notes
  1. Kaj Koskela: Deceased.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Hospital, Huhtalantie 53, Seinäjoki, 60220, Finland

    Leena Tuomisto & Hannu Puolijoki

  2. Finnish Lung Health Association, Finland

    Marina Erhola & Kaj Koskela

  3. Lammi-Tuulos Health Care Centre, Finland

    Marina Erhola

  4. Current Care Guidelines, Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, Finland

    Minna Kaila

  5. Department of General Practice, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Finland

    Minna Kaila

  6. Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Hyvinkää, Finland

    Pirkko E. Brander

  7. Central Hospital, Lappeenranta, Finland

    Ritva Kauppinen

Authors
  1. Leena Tuomisto
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  2. Marina Erhola
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  3. Minna Kaila
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  4. Pirkko E. Brander
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  5. Hannu Puolijoki
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  6. Ritva Kauppinen
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  7. Kaj Koskela
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leena Tuomisto.

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Cite this article

Tuomisto, L., Erhola, M., Kaila, M. et al. Asthma Programme in Finland: High consensus between general practitioners and pulmonologists on the contents of an asthma referral letter. Prim Care Respir J 13, 205–210 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcrj.2004.04.001

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  • Received: 09 January 2004

  • Accepted: 09 April 2004

  • Issue Date: December 2004

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcrj.2004.04.001

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