Asthma%20(pediatric) Patient Education

• Includes skills training, symptom monitoring, and a written personal asthma action plan 
• Aims to actively involve the children, their families and caregivers in managing asthma
• Education should be provided over several visits
  
  • Studies have shown that asthma control is improved with the use of written asthma management plan together with careful verbal explanation of the treatment regimen

• Develop patient/doctor partnership
  
  • Objective is to give patients the ability to control their asthma with guidance from health care professionals 

• The patient, parents and caregivers should be able to apply the following objectives
  
  • Avoid triggers and aggravating factors
  • Take medications accurately and appropriately
  • Understand the difference between “controller” and “reliever” medications
  • Train about correct inhalation technique
  • Monitor asthma control status
  • Recognize signs of worsening asthma and take appropriate action
  • Seek medical help when necessary

Written Asthma Action Plan

• May help patients and patient's parents/guardian/caregiver recognize and respond appropriately to an asthma attack
• Should include specific, individualized instructions about medications and medical care access
• Changes to medications may include the following:
  • Increasing as-needed inhaled low-dose corticosteroid-Formoterol doses
  • The use of an inhaler containing rapid-onset long-acting beta₂-agonist with low-dose corticosteroid
  • Other inhaled corticosteroids and inhaled corticosteroid-long-acting beta₂-agonist maintenance controlled regimens
  • A short-course oral corticosteroids for patients unresponsive to increased doses of reliever and controller medications, rapid deterioration, PEF or FEV₁ <60% of personal best, or a history of sudden severe exacerbations