Abstract

Context

The publication of the BTS/NICE/SIGN Asthma guidelines in 2024 brought significant changes to asthma diagnosis and management in primary care.

Analysis

Prior to the intervention, a wide variability in confidence levels regarding diagnosis and management of asthma was reported. A large proportion of staff had not accessed any prior training on the new guidelines (49% clinical staff, 37% GP trainees), with a lack of time, other priorities and unawareness of new guidelines cited as the main reasons for this.

Intervention

Training sessions were offered to all GP surgeries in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon & Wiltshire. These were delivered in person, within the practice, for 45-60 minutes. Sessions were delivered for 16 surgeries, representing 12 Primary Care Networks. A session for administrative staff was delivered for 6 surgeries. 4 longer sessions were held for GP trainees. The focus of the session were the updates within the new guidelines, principally objective diagnostic tests, and SABA-free management pathways. The GP trainee sessions also included interactive quizzes, case-based discussions and/or role play consultations.

Results

Combined, the 16 surgeries care for a total of 12,813 asthma patients(1). Over 94 clinical staff, 21 admin staff, and 135 GP Trainees attended.

The training sessions were well attended and highly rated. On a scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent), an average of 4.92 was given to the clinical, 4.82 for the admin, and 4.84 for the GP trainee session. Confidence in diagnosis and management in adults and children increased. Attendees valued having the session in person in their practice, preferring this format to on-demand online sessions. 100% of clinical and admin staff said they would recommend the session.

Future ideas

Whilst there are many on-demand learning resources online, it should be recognised that many staff had not accessed these, with pressures on time, attention and availability commonly cited barriers. There was a strong appetite for in-person education within primary care workplaces with over 95% of attendees wanting similar sessions in the future.

1. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Public health profiles. 2023-2024 https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/ © Crown copyright 2026 (accessed 25 March 2026)