Improved asthma outcomes from allergy specialist care: A population-based cross-sectional analysis

Allergy immunotherapy: Reduced health care costs in adults and children with allergic rhinitis

“…Lack of training in allergy/immunology during residency 44 and concerns regarding the loss of autonomy of patient care 45 have been identified as barriers to generalists' use of allergy specialist referral. On the basis of the superior outcomes seen among patients with respiratory allergy treated by allergy specialists versus generalists, [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] interventions that encourage collaboration between generalists and specialists could foster wider use of AIT.…”

Follow-up after acute asthma episodes: What improves future outcomes?

“…8,23,24 Several observational studies have also reported reduced ED visits, hospitalizations, or both in patients managed by asthma specialists compared with patients managed by generalists. [45][46][47][48][49][50][51] Such studies have also reported fewer symptoms, less b-agonist use, improved quality of life, and higher patient satisfaction in patients followed by asthma specialists. 48,[52][53][54] …”

Application and implementation of the GINA asthma guidelines by specialist and primary care physicians: a longitudinal follow-up study on 264 children

“…7,8 Several studies emphasise how important it is to apply international guidelines at the local level and to ensure close cooperation between primary and secondary care providers in the management of chronic diseases such as asthma. [9][10][11][12] In combination with a group of 19 interested primary care physicians we designed, constructed, applied and implemented a diagnostic and therapeutic protocol (a "clinical pathway") based on the GINA guidelines with the aim of ensuring appropriate diagnosis, classification and treatment of children with asthma.…”