Figure 3–12. Key Educational Messages: Teach and Reinforce At Every Opportunity
Basic Facts about Asthma
- The contrast between airways of a person who has and a person who does not have asthma; the role of inflammation
- What happens to the airways in an asthma attack
Roles of Medications: Understanding the Difference Between:
- Long-term-control medications: Prevent symptoms, often by reducing inflammation. Must be taken daily. Do not expect them to give quick relief.
- Quick-relief medications: Short-acting beta2-agonists relax muscles around the airway and provide prompt relief of symptoms. Do not expect them to provide long-term asthma control. Using quick-relief medication on a daily basis indicates the need for starting or increasing long-term control medications.
Patient Skills
- Taking medications correctly
— Inhaler technique (demonstrate to patient and have the patient return the demonstration)
— Use of devices, such as prescribed valved holding chamber (VHC), spacer, nebulizer
- Identifying and avoiding environmental exposures that worsen the patient’s asthma; eg, allergens, irritants, tobacco smoke
- Self-monitoring to:
— Assess level of asthma control
— Monitor symptoms and, if prescribed, peak flow
— Recognize early signs and symptoms of worsening asthma
- Using written asthma action plan to know when and how to:
— Take daily actions to control asthma.
— Adjust medication in response to signs of worsening asthma.
— Seek medical care as appropriate.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma: Full Report 2007. Bethesda, MD: NHLBI; 2007:124.