Allergy & Immunology
RCT
● RCT
IMP2ART Pilot Shows Feasibility for Asthma Self-Management in UK Primary Care
PloS one
Published March 27, 2026
McClatchey Kirstie, Bertram Daisy, Barat Atena, Delaney Brigitte, Hammersley Vicky, Korell Barbara, …
PubMed ↗
DOI ↗
The IMP2ART internal pilot study was a cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) conducted in 12 UK general practices to evaluate the feasibility of an asthma self-management implementation strategy. The study aimed to enhance adherence to asthma self-management guidelines, which include a personalized action plan and regular professional reviews. Practices were randomized to either the IMP2ART strategy (n=6) or usual care (n=6). One control practice withdrew post-randomization. The primary endpoint was the successful delivery and engagement with the IMP2ART strategy, which was met as all implementation group practices completed key components such as facilitated workshops and education modules. The median access to team education modules was 11 per practice, and 3-7 professionals per practice completed the in-depth module. The asthma review template was successfully integrated into practice systems. Delays in audit and feedback reports were noted due to governance changes, yet practices reported positive experiences. No adverse events were reported. The pilot supports the feasibility and acceptability of the IMP2ART strategy, now progressing to a UK-wide cRCT to assess its impact on action plan ownership and health outcomes.
AI Accuracy Review: 9/10
· Auto-published
What if you could breathe easier and avoid emergency room visits for your asthma? Asthma can be tricky to manage, often leaving patients feeling overwhelmed and unsure about their next steps. A new strategy called IMP2ART aims to change that by providing personalized action plans and regular support from healthcare professionals. In a recent pilot program involving 12 general practices in the UK, this approach was put to the test. The results were encouraging: practices that adopted the IMP2ART strategy reported positive experiences and successfully engaged in the program. This means that patients could soon have better tools and support to manage their asthma effectively, leading to fewer urgent visits and improved overall health. However, it's important to note that while the initial findings are promising, further testing is needed to confirm these benefits across a wider population. The hope is that with continued support and the right resources, asthma management can become much more manageable for everyone.
What this means for you: Better asthma management could mean fewer emergency visits and a healthier life for patients.
View Original Abstract ↓
INTRODUCTION: Supported self-management that includes a personalised asthma action plan and regular professional review, reduces unscheduled consultations, and improves asthma outcomes and quality of life. However, despite unequivocal inter/national guideline recommendations, supported self-management is poorly implemented in UK primary care. The IMPlementing IMProved Asthma self-management as RouTine (IMP2ART) implementation strategy (including facilitated provision of patient, professional, and organisational resources) has been developed to address this challenge and is being evaluated in a UK-wide cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT). The internal pilot aimed to assess the trial recruitment processes, delivery of and general practice engagement with the implementation strategy to inform the progression criteria.
METHODS: Using mixed methods, we recruited 12 general practices and monitored trial processes and IMP2ART delivery through team logs and automated data (e.g., use of patient online resources; uptake of practice education modules). Qualitative interviews with general practice staff and IMP2ART facilitators explored feasibility and acceptability of the implementation strategy.
RESULTS: We randomised 12 general practices to the IMP2ART implementation strategy arm (n = 6) or usual asthma care (control, n = 6). One control practice withdrew post-randomisation following concerns about data sharing. Most components were delivered successfully to the implementation group practices so that we met our progression criteria. In all six practices, the facilitated workshop was arranged within 12 weeks of randomisation and the team education module was completed (median 11 accesses/practice), the in-depth module was completed by 'the healthcare professional responsible for asthma reviews' (range 3-7 professionals/practice), and the asthma review template was successfully downloaded to the practice system. All six implementation practices received the baseline and first monthly audit and feedback report although there were delays in this process due to national-level governance changes. Practices' perceptions of IMP2ART were encouraging. In general, they participated in the patient, professional and organisational implementation strategies and reported positive experiences of the trial.
CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence that the IMP2ART trial is feasible, and the implementation strategy is acceptable with only minor adjustments to trial processes. The IMP2ART strategy is now being tested in a UK-wide cRCT [ref: ISRCTN15448074], evaluating implementation (action plan ownership) and health outcomes (unscheduled care).
