We are conducting a focus group in September and looking for adults with severe asthma. The focus group discussions will explore key challenges experienced by people with severe asthma (or suspected severe asthma). The findings, which will be anonymised, will inform an Asthma Society report calling for government action to enhance severe asthma diagnosis, care and treatment in Ireland.
What is severe asthma?
Severe asthma is defined as asthma that requires treatment with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus a second controller and/or systemic corticosteroids to prevent it from becoming ‘uncontrolled’, or that remains ‘uncontrolled’ despite this therapy.
Patients with severe asthma are usually under the care of specialist centres and may be on long-term injection (“biological”) therapy.
Experts consider severe asthma to be present in any of the following four cases:
You are prescribed a long-term injection treatment for your asthma, often referred to as biologicals.
Biological treatments include: “Cinqaero” (reslizumab), "Dupixent" (dupilumab), “Fasenra” (benralizumab), “Nucala” (mepolizumab) or “Xolair” (omalizumab)
OR
You have ever ended up in intensive care with your asthma
OR
You had to stay overnight in an Emergency Department or were admitted to hospital with asthma in the past 12 months
OR
You are prescribed any of the medications listed here (to prevent your asthma from becoming ‘uncontrolled’ or that remains ‘uncontrolled’ despite this therapy).
Who can take part?
Adults and parents/carers of children with severe or difficult-to-control asthma (as detailed above).
What do I need to do?
Participate in a virtual focus group discussion on Thursday 5th or Friday 6th September, from 1 – 2:30 pm via Teams.
If interested, please complete this short form by 30th August 2024.
