ASCIA‐P30: THE AUSPOLLEN PARTNERSHIP: IMPLEMENTING A STANDARDISED NATIONAL POLLEN ALERT SYSTEM FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT OF ALLERGIC RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma attacks triggered by grass pollen, can regularly affect up to three million Australians. Even moderate levels of airborne grass pollen reduce patient quality of life. Despite the high prevalence, medical and socioeconomic burden of allergic rhinitis and asthma, Australia is one of the few developed countries without a national pollen monitoring program. Studies published by The Australian Aerobiology Working Group of currently available pollen count data sets demonstrated evidence of regional and seasonal variability in airborne pollen levels. Limitations in the existing data sets were revealed, highlighting the for improved capacity to monitor pollen aerobiology in Australia. The AusPollen Partnership will implement the first stages of a standardised pollen monitoring network in four major cities. Using websites and smart phone apps, we will deliver information to patients and thier clinicians enabling better management of their conditions. New techniques under development by this team will supersede inaccurate and unsubstantiated publicised pollen forecasts. Importantly, this AusPollen project is designed to test the value of providing localised pollen information and education resources to individual asthma and allergy sufferers by recruiting participants to a national trial. This AusPollen Partnership project was co-developed with ASCIA, Asthma Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology, MeteoSwiss (Switzerland), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and Stallergenes Australia. The goal of this AusPollen Partnership project it to extend research evidence by implementing and evaluating the utility of pollen alert apps and to inform elements of a pollen forecast system to bedeveloped into an operational national forecast service for all of Australia. It is anticipated that AusPollen will lead to reduced symptoms, improved quality of life, and will empower patients to self-manage their condition.