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General Practice Airways Group
The professional website for GPs, practice nurses and allied healthcare professionals
Opinion Sheets 2008
The GPIAG has range of concise, easy-to-follow publications, called opinion sheets, aimed at providing practical guidance to those working in primary care respiratory medicine. These opinion sheets, on many different topics from managing allergic rhinitis and asthma to a guide to using spirometry, have become a valuable resource for members of the GPIAG who are involved in the management of respiratory disease in primary care.
This year, the GPIAG has ambitious plans to create even more opinion sheets on a variety of topics which will be of interest to our members. Watch this space for more information on new opinion sheets. Access to our series of opinion sheets is available free of charge.
Opinion Sheets currently available for download are:
Opinion 1Spirometry
Spirometry is the gold standard for the diagnosis, assessment and monitoring of COPD, and may assist the diagnosis of asthma. It can also contribute to the diagnosis of other causes of dyspnoea.
Opinion 2Mucolytics
Mucolytics are an effective intervention in the management of patients with COPD. They have been used extensively in the rest of Europe and many studies have demonstrated their benefits. Their use has been endorsed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Opinion 3Allergic rhinitis and asthma
The increasing realisation that allergic rhinitis and asthma share a number of anatomical, epidemiological and pathological characteristics has, for some time now, suggested that the two conditions may be directly linked. This opinion sheet seeks to summarise the key literature on the nature of the relationship between allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Opinion 4Management of asthma in children
Asthma is the commonest chronic disease in children, affecting at least 15% of all children at some stage in their childhood. This opinion sheet constitutes a short summary of the latest guideline evidence on the management of paediatric asthma, with particular emphasis on the main areas of concern for parents.
Opinion 5The role of anti-IgE therapy in the treatment of severe allergic asthma
Asthma is an extremely common disorder for which there is a good range of existing treatments available. This opionion sheet discusses the role of anti-IgE therapy in difficult-to-control patients with severe allergic asthma.
Opinion 6A Guide to the Quality and Outcomes Framework for respiratory disease
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD) are major causes of morbidity in the UK. In this opinion sheet we explain the changes to the respiratory elements of the QOF for 2006, advise clinicians on how to achieve these objectives, and attempt to suggest what further changes should come over the next few years.
Opinion 7Palliative care for people with COPD
Patients with advanced COPD may have worse quality of life, greater limitation of activity, and more anxiety and depression than patients with lung cancer, yet access to palliative care services is rare. This opinion sheet discusses the role of primary care clinicians in identifying those paients who would benefit from a palliative care approach.
Opinion 8Home Oxygen Therapy
This opinion sheet on home oxygen therapy summarises the current guideline advice on assessing and treating patients who require oxygen therapy.
Opinion 9Discontinuation of CFC-containing beclometasone metered dose inhalers - planning for change
Inhaled corticosteroids are the key to successful management of persistent asthma symptoms, and are also used in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This opinion sheet provides guidance to those healthcare professionals who wish to implement transition to CFC-Free inhaled steroid inhalers.
Opinion 10Allergy Testing in Primary Care
Allergic diseases are a common and increasing problem in Western societies, the commonest manifestations of which are respiratory and dermatological in nature. This opinion sheet discusses the merits of allergy testing in primary care, how it should be undertaken and the results interpreted and also provides advice on where to get further information on allergy testing in primary care.
Opinion 11Self Management of COPD in Primary Care
Self management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is usually taken to mean the self management of acute exacerbations. While this is important, other critical aspects of self management include smoking cessation, exercise, nutrition and stress management. This opinion sheet concentrates on the use of personal action plans in the management of exacerbations of COPD.
Opinion 12Personal Asthma Action Plans
Whilst the concept of patient-centred care is not new, it is now increasingly evidence-based. It should be noted that most people with asthma are caring for their own condition 99% of the time and that we, as health care
professionals, have a responsibility to equip them with the tools, knowledge and information that permits them to do this satisfactorily.
Opinion 15Diagnosis of Asthma
The GPIAG has developed this short summary intended to assist clinicians in making a diagnosis of asthma in primary care. A label template (Using Avery Labels 7173) accompanies this opinion sheet and can be downloaded here
Opinion 16Management of Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Primary Care
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a slowly progressive condition characterised by episodes of acute exacerbations, which have dramatic effects on the patient. This opinion sheet offers advice on the management of exacerbations and includes a sample self-management plan Opinion Sheet Sponsorship and Copyright Information
This series of opinion sheets has been sponsored by educational grants from AstraZeneca UK Limited, Boehringer-Ingelheim Ltd/Pfizer Ltd, Merck Sharpe and Dohme Limited, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Limited and Schering Plough Ltd. The sponsors may have reviewed relevant opinion sheets to advise on matters of factual accuracy related to their product licence but they have not contributed to, nor have they influenced, the contents of these opinion sheets.
The views expressed in these publications are not necessarily those of either the sponsors or the General
Practice Airways Group (GPIAG).
