Research project: Barriers to effective self-management of asthma: A systematic review

Self-management is an established and effective approach to controlling asthma and is recommended in British clinical national guidelines on the management of asthma. Despite the effectiveness of asthma self-management approaches, the promotion, uptake and use of self-management among people with asthma, parents/caregivers of children with asthma, and health professionals remain low. Although many barriers to self-management have been reported, no review exists that includes the qualitative and quantitative evidence encompassing individual, professional, organisational and structural barriers to self-management interventions. Therefore, in order to maximise the benefits of self-management for all people with asthma, it is necessary to identify the barriers to effective asthma self-management.

The aim of this project is to review the qualitative and quantitative evidence encompassing individual, professional, organisational and structural barriers to self-management interventions. This will help to indicate where improvements need to be focused in order to help the groups of people least likely to benefit from existing self-management interventions.

Start Date: 1st July 2013
End Date: 30th June 2014
Funding agency: Asthma UK