Feasibility of implementing a Chronic Cough Decision Support Tool (CC-DST) to diagnose and manage chronic cough at primary health clinics

Research question: Is a decision support tool for the diagnosis and management of chronic cough feasible to be implemented in clinical practice, and how does it influence the overall quality of patient care and outcomes? Background: A decision-support tool to manage chronic cough is important to aid primary care physicians in recognizing serious conditions. We developed a chronic cough decision support tool (CC-DST) to guide primary care doctors to accurately diagnose the cause of chronic cough and provide initial therapeutic intervention. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility of implementing CC-DST in clinical practice. Methodology: Design: A feasibility study Population: Adult patients attending primary care clinics with chronic cough. Sample size 30 patients Follow-up duration: zero weeks, four weeks, eight weeks, and twelve weeks. Intervention: Chronic Cough Decision Support Tool (CC-DST). Outcome measures: Primary outcome measures: Number of patients recruited per week per clinic, proportion of patients who agreed to participate, proportion of dropouts, the proportion and duration of investigations,proportions referred and duration taken to receive feedback. Secondary outcome measures: the proportion of patients with the correct diagnosis, investigation, and management defined as cough resolution at the end of twelve weeks. The useability and adaptability of CC-DST in clinical practice will be explored through qualitative research. Questions to discuss: 1. How best to monitor the fidelity of the intervention? 2. How best to ensure the use of the CC-DST by health care practitioners during their consultation? 3. How best to assess the patients’ perspectives on the usability, acceptability, and impact of a decision support tool in the diagnosis and management of chronic cough during primary healthcare visits? Declaration of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. This research is funded by IPGRG through the IPCRG Research Prioritisation Small Grant.