This study will address the key question of developing shared understanding and negotiating mutually acceptable outcomes between people with asthma and healthcare professionals by applying theoretical knowledge of self regulation and communication skills learning and practice to asthma consultations.

This study will facilitate integration of best practice into normal care using the BTS/SIGN asthma guidelines as the basis for structured care. This intervention has been show to be effective in the US. We aim to show that it can be effective in the UK setting in a cluster randomised control trial.

We aim to modify and evaluate the intervention in such a way that it can be easily offered across UK primary care settings, with the possibility of significant benefits for patients. The intervention is based on the principle of empowering patients to manage their condition themselves, is consistent with the aims of Asthma UK, and, for this reason, we believe that Asthma UK may wish to be associated with this project.