A new report is showcasing the impact of a national AHSN Network programme to improve access to FeNO testing for asthma diagnosis. Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) tests are simple, non-invasive tests to support the diagnosis of asthma.
A new report is showcasing the impact of a national AHSN Network programme to improve access to FeNO testing for asthma diagnosis.
To consider how and when we use FeNO testing, we need to go to the definition of asthma. Both BTS/SIGN1 and GINA2 define it as a predominantly inflammatory disorder of the airways with airway hyperresponsiveness and variability in symptoms.
The common chronic respiratory disorders diagnosed in primary care—asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—are both characterised by airway obstruction.
NICE Diagnostic Guidance 12 (DG12); Measuring fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration in asthma: NIOX MINO, NIOX VERO and NObreath.
Making a case for change In order to justify any investment on new services or equipment, it is important to make a case for change (business case), describe the intended impacts and outcomes of your project, and outline the costs and proj
Health Education England elearning for healthcare, in partnership with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Accelerated Access Collaborative, WAHSN, AHSN Network, and the Office for Life Sciences, developed two elearning modules focused on FeNO in Asthma.
NICE guidance is integral to the clinical care that we offer as Health Care Professionals (HCPs).
Quality Improvement (QI) helps us identify what works well and where we can make changes. In primary care, we don't have time or resources to spend on things that don't work, don't serve our patients, and that could be done more efficiently or effectively.
accuRx has created a FeNO template to send to patients prior to their appointment via text message. For information on what's included and how to find the template, have a look at the guidance document below.
This may include an understanding of the benefits of having a FeNO test, including:
Language can play a big barrier in healthcare delivery – for example, by preventing people accessing healthcare in an effectively and timely way, preventing people understand what they need to do to support their own self-management, or by preventing people from understanding their treatment and
These templates are only available to EMIS and TPP users – they are not available to MicroTest and Vision users.
The AHSN Network supported the spread of FeNO testing across primary care in England from April 2021 to March 2023, led by Wessex AHSN as the lead AHSN. This programme was delivered as part of the NHS England Accelerated Access Collaborative Rapid Uptake Programme.
The Association for Respiratory Technology & Physiology (ARTP) have now updated their advice on how to reduce the risk of spreading viral respiratory infections when performing aerosol-generating procedures (AEGs) such as spirometry in primary care settings.