Quality standard
Quality statement 2: Bronchiolitis management
Quality statement 2: Bronchiolitis management
Quality statement
Parents and carers of children with bronchiolitis are informed that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Rationale
In most cases, medication is not needed to manage bronchiolitis because it is usually self-limiting (that is, it settles without the need for treatment). Helping parents and carers to understand this can increase their confidence in caring for their child at home if hospital admission is not needed. It may also help parents and carers understand why medication is not being given even if the child is admitted to hospital.
Quality measures
The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements to help parents and carers of children with bronchiolitis understand that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
a) Proportion of diagnoses of bronchiolitis in primary care where the parents and carers are informed that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Numerator – the number in the denominator where the parents and carers are informed that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Denominator – the number of diagnoses of bronchiolitis in primary care.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Proportion of diagnoses of bronchiolitis in secondary care where the parents and carers are informed that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Numerator – the number in the denominator where the parents and carers are informed that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Denominator – the number of diagnoses of bronchiolitis in secondary care.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (such as primary and secondary care and emergency departments) ensure that resources are available to help parents and carers of children with bronchiolitis understand that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Healthcare professionals (such as GPs and secondary care clinicians) inform parents and carers of children with bronchiolitis that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Commissioners ensure that primary and secondary care providers have procedures in place to inform parents and carers of children with bronchiolitis that medication is not being used because the condition is usually self-limiting.
Parents and carers of children with bronchiolitis are informed that bronchiolitis usually settles without the need for treatment, which is why medication is not being used.
Source guidance
Bronchiolitis in children: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG9 (2015), recommendation 1.4.3 (key priority for implementation)