OBJECTIVES: @entity1 with @entity565 commonly present to @entity341 ( @entity341 ) with exacerbations. @entity565 guidelines recommend close follow-up with a @entity298 ( @entity298 ) after @entity341 discharge; however, this linkage is often delayed or absent. The objective of this study was to assess whether @entity341 -directed educational interventions improve office follow-up with PCPs after @entity341 discharge for acute @entity565 . METHODS: Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in seven electronic databases (1946 to 2014). Randomized controlled clinical trials examining the effectiveness of educational interventions to increase office follow-up with a @entity298 were included. Study quality was determined using the Cochrane risk of bias tool; fidelity of the interventions was assessed using the Treatment Fidelity Assessment Grid. Using study data, risk ratios (RRs),and the number needed to treat for benefit (NNTB) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models. RESULTS: From 427 potentially relevant studies, five (n  =  825) were included. The overall risk of bias was unclear, and the description of intervention fidelity varied across the studies. Educational interventions targeting either @entity1 or PCPs led to a greater likelihood of having primary care follow-up after @entity341 discharge (RR  =  1.6; 95% CI  =  1.31 to 1.87; I(2)   =  0%). The number needed to treat for benefit was six (95% CI  =  4 to 11). No significant benefit was observed in reductions of relapses (RR  =  1.3; 95% CI  =  0.82 to 1.98; I(2)   =  23%) and admissions (RR  =  0.51; 95% CI  =  0.24 to 1.06; I(2)   =  0%). Due to the small number of studies for each comparison, publication bias was not formally assessed. CONCLUSIONS: @entity341 -directed educational interventions targeting either @entity1 or providers increase the chance of having office follow-up visits with PCPs after @entity565 exacerbations. Their impact on health-related outcomes (e.g., relapse and admissions) remains unclear.

Effectiveness of Educational Interventions to Increase Primary Care Follow-up for Adults Seen in the Emergency Department for Acute  XXXX : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity565 :: ('MESH:D001249', 'Disease') :: ['asthma', 'Asthma'] @entity341 :: ('MESH:D004630', 'Disease') :: ['ED', 'emergency departments'] @entity298 :: ('MESH:D010538', 'Disease') :: ['PCP', 'primary care provider']
@entity565 :: (MESH:D001249,Disease) :: ['Asthma']
