Key priorities to prevent avoidable asthma hospitalisations: insights from end-users

Preventable asthma hospitalisations remain a major concern. Guided by end-user input, this study identifies 9 research priorities to help Asthma Australia halve hospitalisations by 2030 and improve life for people with asthma and their families. Background and objective Asthma remains a significant burden on health systems and individuals, with many hospitalisations in Australia considered preventable through improved management and community care. This study aimed to explore the end-user perspectives on preventing potentially avoidable asthma hospitalisations and identify key themes, research questions, and priorities. Methods This cross sectional study involved administering an anonymous online survey as part of a national asthma research priority-setting initiative. The participants included people living with asthma, their carers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in Australia, all of whom were asked to provide free-text responses regarding the research questions they considered important for preventing asthma hospitalisations. Responses underwent thematic and content analysis to identify themes. Results Of the 554 respondents, 461 (83%) were individuals living with asthma, primarily females aged 45–64. The analysis identified nine key themes, however, subgroup analysis revealed four dominant themes: (i) self-management support, focusing on increasing knowledge and confidence, awareness of when to seek help, and the use of digital health tools; (ii) pharmacological approaches, seeking better medication options with minimal side effects; (iii) strategies for avoiding major asthma events, emphasising improved proactive measures to reduce asthma attacks; (iv) asthma care, highlighting the need to make medications more affordable, and enhanced access to care. Conclusions This study highlights key research priorities from the collective voice of end-users on preventing potentially avoidable asthma-related hospitalisations. These novel data provide a foundation for future research aimed at supporting Asthma Australia's vision to reduce asthma-related hospitalisations by 50% by 2030.