title: Improving allergy management in the primary care network--a holistic approach.
abstract: The incidence, prevalence and costs of allergy have increased substantially in recent decades in many parts of Europe. The dominant model of allergy care within Europe is at the moment specialist-based. This model will become unsustainable and undeliverable with increasing disease prevalence. One solution to increase provision of allergy services is to diversify the providers. A new model for the provision of allergy care in the community with the general practitioner at the forefront is proposed. Pre- and postgraduate allergy education and training, implementation of pathways of care, allergy specialization and political will to generate resources and support are essential to achieve this new model. In parallel the holistic view of allergic diseases should be maintained, including assessment of severity and risk, psychological factors and health-care related costs in the context of the patient-centered decision making process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jutel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Angier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palkonen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valovirta
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: van Wijk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Agache
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000191:economics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: allergy management; health-economics; patient-focused approach; primary care; psychosocial factors