Asthma Education: Using the Toolbox

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Asthma Education Using the Toolbox

• Mary E. Bouthiette RN, AE-C
• January 2009

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The 4 Components of Asthma Management

• Component 1 Measures of Asthma Assessment and
  Monitoring
• Component2 Education for a Partnership in Asthma
  Care
• Component 3 Control of Environmental Factors and
  Comorbid Conditions That Affect Asthma
• Component 4 Medications

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Asthma Education

• Asthma education is essential for successful
  management of asthma
• Effective asthma education is developed in a
  patient/provider partnership
• Encourages family support and instructions on
  self-management

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Asthma Education

• Basic facts about asthma
• Roles of medications
• Patient Skills
• Environmental Exposures
• Self Monitoring

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Basic Facts About Asthma

• What is asthma?
• What happens during an attack?
• Early warning signs and symptoms
• Exercise and asthma

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Roles of Medications

• How medication works
• Controller vs. quick relief
• Importance of long-term controller medications

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Patient Skills

• Inhaler technique (demonstrate to patient with
  return demonstration
• Use of devices as prescribed such as valved
  holding chamber or spacer and nebulizer

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Environmental Exposures

• Identification, avoidance and control of
  environmental triggers at home, school and work
• Recommend measures to control asthma triggers
• Allergy testing may be necessary to identify
  individual triggers

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Self Monitoring

• Assess level of asthma control
• Monitor symptoms and peak flow
• Recognize early signs and symptoms of worsening
  asthma
• Seeking medical care as appropriate

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Self Management Education

• Improves patient outcomes such as reduced
  ER/hospitalizations, limitations on activities,
  improved health status, quality of life and
  asthma control
• Is cost effective
• Encourages self-reliance-patient knows what to do

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Written AAP

• Take daily actions to control asthma
• Adjust medication in response to worsening asthma
• Provides patients/families with an easy reference
  for remembering how to manage their asthma
• Seek medical care as appropriate

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Written Asthma ActionPlan

• Should be reviewed and adjusted at each follow up
  visit
• For children a copy of the plan should be given
  to each caregiver, to school and daycare.

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What is an AE-C?

• An expert in teaching, educating and counseling
  individuals with asthma and their families in the
  knowledge and skills necessary to minimize the
  impact of asthma on their quality of life.

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Asthma Toolbox

• Office Reference
• Office Tools
• Patient Education
• Office Display Materials

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Office Reference

• Links to Office Reference materials are now
  available in the Toolbox section of the AsthmaNow
  website
• www.asthmanow.net