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ASCIA Progress Report - National Allergy Council Shared Care for Allergy project - February 2023

ASCIA’s involvement in the National Allergy Council Shared Care for Allergy project includes education and training of health professionals. The aim of this project is to improve access to quality healthcare for people with allergies, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas.

The following information summarises the progress of ASCIA’s involvement in the project as at 8 February 2023, in regards to:

  1. Scoping of undergraduate education and training for health professionals 
  2. Review of existing ASCIA education and training resources
  3. Stakeholder consultation to identify education needs via surveys
  4. CPD point allocation for training courses and programs
  5. Promotion of patient support organisations through training and other mechanisms
  6. Providing support to users of ASCIA e-training courses
  7. MBS Item numbers for food and drug challenges
  8. Development of new training resources and programs including case-based programs
  9. ASCIA nominations to National Allergy Council Shared Care for Allergy project working party
  10. ASCIA staffing for National Allergy Council Shared Care for Allergy project
1. Scoping of undergraduate education and training for health professionals

Whilst we are aware that some undergraduate courses include ASCIA e-training, we do not know the extent of this, and if is mandatory or optional.

To scope the benefits, enablers and barriers for incorporating allergy training into undergraduate training for medical and other health professionals, ASCIA will:

  • Conduct a gap analysis to determine current allergy education being provided in universities.
  • Engage with relevant stakeholders to determine the benefits, enablers and barriers for incorporating allergy training into undergraduate training.
  • Work with other medical organisations to develop minimum competencies.
  • Provide a report with the findings of the above activities.
2. Review of existing ASCIA education and training resources

The ASCIA website was significantly updated in late 2022 to improve the user experience and make it easier to find more than 400 online resources and courses, which include:

The process for reviewing, developing and updating ASCIA online resources and training has been documented and this information is available on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/website-information

3. Stakeholder consultation to identify education needs via surveys

ASCIA will obtain feedback data from evaluation surveys, which will be collated and reviewed in 2023. ASCIA e-training surveys used to be optional, whereas they now need to be completed before users obtain their certificate of course completion.

In 2023 ASCIA will be collecting more data, which will include the following initiatives: 

  • To obtain feedback from ASCIA members about ASCIA online resources, education and training a survey was sent to all ASCIA members in December 2022. Responses were received from 40% of ASCIA members by the deadline of 31 January 2023, and these will be summarised in a report by the end of March 2023.
  • To obtain stakeholder feedback about ASCIA online resources, education and training a similar survey will be sent to non-ASCIA members who subscribe to the ASCIA community newsletter.
  • To obtain feedback about ASCIA anaphylaxis, food allergy, allergic rhinitis and allergen immunotherapy e-training courses for health professionals a short survey is now included at the end of the courses, which will only take users a few minutes to complete before they obtain their certificate of course completion. All information collected will be anonymous, and courses can be accessed here
  • To obtain feedback about ASCIA anaphylaxis, food allergy and allergic rhinitis e-training courses for pharmacists a short survey is now included at the end of the courses, which will only take users a few minutes to complete before they obtain their certificate of course completion. All information collected will be anonymous and courses can be accessed here

The following ASCIA meetings will also be oppportunities to obtain feedback on ASCIA online resources and courses:

  • ASCIA-DA Food Allergy Course for Dietitians - 2 to 3 March 2023
  • ASCIA 2023 Conference Allergy Update for Medical Practitioners - 8 September 2023
  • ASCIA 2023 Conference Allergy Updates for Nurses and Dietitians - 8 September 2023
4. CPD point allocation for training courses and programs 
  • ASCIA e-training courses have been updated in January 2023 to include the new evaluation surveys.
  • These surveys include questions in the health professional courses that are required for RACGP CPD point allocation.
  • In February 2023 ASCIA will apply to the RACGP (for the 2023-2025 triennium), ACCRM, PSA and other relevant organisations for CPD point allocation. 
5. Promotion of patient support organisations through training and other mechanisms 

ASCIA online resources for health professionals, patients and carers will be reviewed and updated in 2023-2024 to ensure that plain language is used where possible and to include the following information at the start of each document:

For patient or carer support contact Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia or Allergy New Zealand.

This information has also been included in ASCIA e-training courses.

6. Providing support to users of ASCIA e-training courses 

Users of ASCIA e-training courses continue to be supported through:

  • Online feedback form
  • Direct email
  • Website updates
  • Newsletter information
  • ASCIA responding to feedback from the new evaluation surveys.
7. MBS Item numbers for food and drug challenges

ASCIA is in the process of requesting recommendations regarding consultants with experience in applying for MBS item numbers for procedures. In the meantime ASCIA has developed the following resources (mostly in 2022), which will be important to reference in the MBS item number applications:

An ASCIA Position Paper for Drug Allergy Challenges is under development and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2023.

8. Development of new training resources and programs including case-based programs

In 2023 ASCIA will expand its CPD opportunities for ASCIA members, by facilitating clinical case review groups for clinical immunology/allergy specialists and immunology/allergy advanced trainees via the existing Paediatric Immunology and Allergy Interest Group (PIAIG) and the new Adult Immunology and Allergy Interest Group (AIAIG).

Facilitating these case review groups will provide ASCIA with experience and knowledge that can be transferred to upskilling other health professionals (including non ASCIA members) in anaphylaxis and allergy. These case discussion groups may be offered to health professionals who attend the following meetings (as a follow up to the meetings):

  • ASCIA-DA Food Allergy Course for Dietitians - 2 to 3 March 2023
  • ASCIA 2023 Conference Allergy Update for Medical Practitioners - 8 September 2023
  • ASCIA 2023 Conference Allergy Updates for Nurses and Dietitians - 8 September 2023
9. ASCIA nominations to National Allergy Council Shared Care for Allergy project working party
10. ASCIA staffing for National Allergy Council Shared Care for allergy project
  • ASCIA has now employed two project officers to work on the National Allergy Council projects who have commenced work on 1st March 2023, as listed on the ASCIA website  www.allergy.org.au/members/committees#d
  • In addition, existing ASCIA staff (equivalent to 1 FTE) and contractors are working to progress work on the National Allergy Council projects.  

This news item was issued on 9 February 2023 and updated on 18 February 2023 by Jill Smith, CEO of ASCIA, the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.