Paediatric severe asthma biologics service: from hospital to home

Children with severe asthma may be treated with biologic agents normally requiring 2–4 weekly injections in hospital. In March 2020, due to COVID-19, we needed to minimise hospital visits. We assessed whether biologics could be given safely at home. The multidisciplinary team identified children to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArchives of disease in childhood Vol. 106; no. 9; pp. 900 - 902
Main Authors Makhecha, Sukeshi, Jamalzadeh, Angela, Irving, Samantha, Hall, Pippa, Sonnappa, Samatha, Saglani, Sejal, Bush, Andrew, Fleming, Louise
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.09.2021
BMJ Publishing Group
Subjects
Asthma
Biological products
Children
Children & youth
Community health care
Community nursing
Community Relations
Continuity of care
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Discharge planning
Families & family life
Family (Sociological Unit)
Feedback
Hospitals
Immunoglobulin E
Immunotherapy
Monoclonal antibodies
Nursing
Parents
Parents & parenting
Patients
Pediatrics
Quality of life
Questionnaires
Short Report
Spirometry
Steroids
Video Technology
Video teleconferencing
COVID-19
nursing care
pharmacology
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Summary:Children with severe asthma may be treated with biologic agents normally requiring 2–4 weekly injections in hospital. In March 2020, due to COVID-19, we needed to minimise hospital visits. We assessed whether biologics could be given safely at home. The multidisciplinary team identified children to be considered for home administration. This was virtually observed using a video link, and home spirometry was also performed. Feedback was obtained from carers and young people. Of 23 patients receiving biologics, 16 (70%) families agreed to homecare administration, 14 administered by parents/patients and 2 by a local nursing team. Video calls for omalizumab were observed on 56 occasions, mepolizumab on 19 occasions over 4 months (April–July). Medication was administered inaccurately on 2/75 occasions without any adverse events. Virtually observed home biologic administration in severe asthmatic children, supported by video calls and home spirometry, is feasible, safe and is positively perceived by children and their families
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/archdischild-2020-320626