Lay summary
The “Lungs4Life” programme seeks to reduce inequities in respiratory health in the northern region. Children < 2 years with 3 or more hospitalisations for lower respiratory tract infections and/or clinical suspicion for ongoing respiratory disease are enrolled in a programme of nurse-led community surveillance. Home visits identify ongoing respiratory symptoms and provide interventions, health resilient behaviours and referrals where needed. The programme seeks to prevent early respiratory infection leading to the development of chronic lung disease, notably preschool wheeze, asthma and bronchiectasis (lung scarring seen more frequently with Māori and Pasifika). The aim of this placement is to review the longitudinal respiratory health outcomes of the nearly 200 children enrolled in the first 5 years of the programme delivered from a South Auckland hospital. It will also provide an opportunity to understand the whānau experience and identify how we might improve the programme delivery with this whānau input.