Objectives. To determine whether a previously-validated touch screen computer program of symptoms and management of childhood asthma is acceptable to parents who accompany their children to consult a GP, and to examine whether any parent characteristics are associated with acceptability.Methods. Conducted in general practice in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. A cross sectional pen and paper survey was given to parents of children consulting a GP after completing the computer questionnaire on childhood asthma in the waiting room. Measurements were frequencies of Likert scale responses to statements concerning the computer questionnaire, compared with demographic and personal characteristics.Results. High levels of acceptability of the asthma computer questionnaire were reported by the 198 respondents, with most being willing to do the same program once or twice a year (87%), or to do similar programs on other topics (91%). Most respondents (81%) agreed that the computer program was enjoyable, and very few (8%) would have preferred to answer the asthma questions by pen and paper rather than by computer. Two or more children accompanying the parent was the characteristic most associated with less positive responses.Conclusions. Overall the high acceptability of this questionnaire suggests that this computerised format is an appropriate method of screening children for asthma and determining their current management. As a large component of underdiagnosis of asthma is lack of reporting to the doctor, this valid and acceptable diagnostic aid has the potential to improve detection of unreported asthma, and also to identify high-risk individuals.

AIM:To gauge the importance and relevance placed by general practitioners on components of the National Asthma Campaign's 'Six step' Asthma Management Plan for childhood asthma.METHOD:A cross sectional postal survey of a national randomised sample of 824 GPs.RESULTS:Each component was considered to be 'quite' or 'very' important by at least 70% of respondents. All 11 components were rated to be either 'quite' or 'very' important by 44%, and 91% of respondents considered eight or more of the components to be 'quite' or 'very' important. Two characteristics were consistently associated with the rating of importance: gender, (women GPs generally showing higher ratings), and reported frequency of use of the Asthma Management Plan (frequent users rate importance more frequently).CONCLUSION:There were high levels of endorsement of the Asthma Management Plan for children with asthma.

BACKGROUND:Childhood asthma remains underdiagnosed in general practice. Computers with a patient interface have the potential to screen children for asthma in a time-efficient manner.AIM:To develop a concise, validated self-report measure that calculates an 'asthma score' that predicts likelihood of asthma and its severity in childhood.DESIGN OF STUDY:Computerised questionnaire survey in general practitioners' (GPs') waiting rooms, followed by a written questionnaire and either bronchial challenge or skin allergy testing at the regional teaching hospital.SETTING:Children between 18 months and 18 years old accompanied by a parent or guardian in five group practices in Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia.METHOD:The responses from both the computerised questionnaire and the written questionnaire were compared with physician assessment of asthma, based on an existing validated questionnaire and clinical tests.RESULTS:Six items were identified to be independently and significantly associated (at P < 0.05) with the presence of asthma and its severity: parent or self-reported asthma, previous diagnosis, wheeze in the past year, physical activity affected by symptoms, night cough in the past year, and visits to a GP in the past year. From the regression model a linear score was derived that indicates whether a child is likely to have asthma and its likely severity.CONCLUSIONS:The asthma score is a valid indicator of asthma and its severity in children in general practice.