Evaluation of Medical and Nursing Management for Bronchiectasis

Project design: The study will be a 12 month retrospective observational cohort study conducted through a review of medical records, internal respiratory databases and electronic hospital patient record (OACIS, HOMER & EPAS). Participants: Participants in the study will include all patients who have emergency service presentations or admissions to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) with new or existing bronchiectasis in 2011(Jan 1st to Dec 31st). This will be repeated using the same criteria in 2013. An additional year of July2016- Jun2017 has been added for recency of management and to assess if change occurred with introduction of electronic patient record. Data collection: Demographics, clinical data, hospital service utilization, and clinical outcomes such as exacerbation frequency and disease progression. All data will be extracted into a standardized data extraction form, which a random subset will be checked by a second researcher.Analysis of results:Demographic and descriptive data will be given in means + standard deviation and compared using a two-tailed and Student t-test. Categorical variables will be compared using chi-squared or Fisher exact tests, and when appropriate the Mann Whitney U test for non-parametric data. Statistical significance will be determined using an alpha of p <0.05. All analyses will be examined using SPSS software (version x). A subgroup analysis for primary and secondary admission diagnosis will also be performed.

Inclusion criteria

Admission or attendance to emergency services at The Queen Elizabeth hospital with primary or secondary diagnosis of Bronchiectasis in 2011. Repeated using same criteria in 2013 and July2016-June2017

Exclusion criteria

Patients who do not have bronchiectasis. Patients with traction bronchiectasis. Patients who do not have outpatient follow up. Patients who have follow up by private physicians or other hospitals and records are unavailable.