Table 3 Consensus on respiratory disease research priorities in Portugal
From: The respiratory research agenda in primary care in Portugal: a Delphi study
Domain | Category (%) | Source | Research Topic and % agreement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Asthma | Compliance (n = 1; 8.3 %) | RNS/PT | 1. What is the degree of adherence to therapy among Portuguese asthma patients? 2. How can the adherence problems be resolved (especially in subgroups such as adolescent patients with asthma)? | 89 % |
COPD | Prevention (n = 1; 8.3 %) | PT | 3. How important are the anti-influenza and anti-pneumococcal vaccination in COPD? 4. Are our patients vaccinated appropriately with the anti-pneumococcal vaccine? 5. What can we do to improve this? | 89 % |
COPD | Treatment (n = 6; 50 %) | PT | 6. What is the degree of adherence to maintenance treatments in COPD? | 89 % |
Smoking | Treatment (n = 6; 50 %) | RNS | 7. How may short counselling be used more effectively to increase motivation to quit smoking? 8. What methods are efficient for the busy family doctor? | 89 % |
Asthma | Evaluation (n = 2; 16.6 %) | RNS/PT | 9. What is the role of lung function tests in regular monitoring of asthma patients in primary care? 10. What is the appropriate frequency of tesing for each degree of severity and level of control? | 86 % |
Asthma | Diagnosis (n = 2; 16.6 %) | RNS/PT | 11. How can you diagnose asthma earlier in Primary Care? 12. What causes under-diagnosis? | 82 % |
Asthma | Treatment (n = 6; 50 %) | RNS/PT | 13. How empowered are asthma patients? 14. What are their preferences in usage of inhalers? 15. How can you identify good and poor inhaler technique? 16. What is the best strategy to ensure good inhaler technique? | 82 % |
Asthma | Treatment (n = 6; 50 %) | RNS | 17. What is the most cost-effective approach for inhaler use? | 82 % |
COPD | Evaluation (n = 2; 16.6 %) | PT | 18. What measurements (spirometry, dyspnea scores, exercise tolerance, symptom scores, control scores, specific COPD questionnaires or generic Quality of Life scores) are viable and provide useful information for routine monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment in primary care? 19. What is the ideal frequency of respiratory function tests for monitoring? | 82 % |
COPD | Diagnosis (n = 2; 16.6 %) | RNS/PT | 20. What is the best way to diagnose COPD in primary care? | 82 % |
Respiratory Infections | Treatment (n = 6; 50 %) | RNS | 21. Can delayed prescribing reduce the use of antibiotics without compromising the results? | 82 % |
Respiratory Infections | Treatment (n = 6; 50 %) | PT | 22. What is the best strategy to approach airway infections in children in Primary Care? 23. Are children with the upper respiratory tract infections being treated excessively with antibiotics? | 82 % |