Lay summary
Bronchiectasis (bron-key-ect-a-sis) is a preventable disease that causes lung scarring, making breathing hard. It unequally affects Māori, Pacific and disadvantaged children in Aotearoa. When bronchiectasis gets worse children have two weeks hospital treatment. Children describe hospital as ‘an inhospitable place’. We will divide children hospitalised for bronchiectasis treatment into two groups, receiving either (i) the usual two-week hospital treatment; or (ii) a shorter one-week hospital treatment plus one-week treatment at home. We will compare getting better and staying well, general wellbeing, and treatment costs to see if we can shorten hospital time while maintaining good health outcomes. Findings will provide evidence to inform clinical practice and bronchiectasis treatment guidelines nationally and globally, and have economic savings, reducing the burden on whānau and the healthcare system. It will also address the equity gap of those living with bronchiectasis.