Investigating patient experiences of obtaining a diagnosis of severe asthma: the Severe Asthma Pathways Study

People with severe asthma will be interviewed about their experiences in obtaining a severe asthma diagnosis. It is anticipated that there will only be a single exposure to the patient but given the nature of qualitative research, follow up exposures may be necessary to further explore interview topics to prevent interview fatigue and in depth exploration of topics. The patient will determine the length of each exposure based on their comfort levels. The anticipated maximum duration of a single interview will be approximately 60 minutes to prevent interview fatigue and further interviews scheduled if necessary. The maximum number of interviews that a participant may be asked to complete to further explore interview topics will be three, e.g. maximum of three 60 minute interviews spaced one month apart. The participant is not required to complete any questionnaires, either online or in person. Topics covered in the interviews will include time taken to receive a diagnosis of severe asthma, number of specialists seen, symptoms experienced (onset/duration), interactions with primary health care including pharmacists and general practitioners. The overall duration of study participation when follow-up interviews are undertaken will be no longer than three months. Interviews will be conducted, via videoconference to allow for rapport to develop between interviewer and participant. HOWEVER, only audio recordings will be kept. The interviews will be conducted by a research assistant trained in qualitative interview techniques.