Teaching Patients the Critical Components of Asthma Self-Management

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic disease with considerable morbidity and mortality. Even those with mild asthma can experience a life-threatening event, and nearly 55% of adults with asthma have poor disease control. Asthma self-management (ASM) training provides instruction on desired medication, monitoring, and trigger avoidance behaviors. Together, these ASM “best practices” are strongly linked to enhanced asthma control and reduced attacks. Certification as an asthma educator (AE-Cs) indicates that the certificant possesses expert knowledge of these 3 critical elements of ASM training, as well as proficiency in the delivery of programs in diverse populations. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of AE-Cs in comparison to the number of individuals with asthma, the task of providing ASM training often falls on members of the health care team who do not have the same knowledge base as AE-Cs or other asthma specialists, such as experienced respiratory therapists or board-certified allergists. To meet the increasing demands for ASM training in the face of the limited number of AE-Cs, all providers must be engaged in the delivery of training. This article serves as a primer for those who deliver training but are uncertain as to what the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program’s Expert Panel Report-3 indicates are the essential components of an ASM curriculum.