PROVIDING ASTHMA EDUCATION IN PRIMARY-CARE PRACTICE

An educational dialog founded on open communication between clinician and patient is necessary for a successful partnership in asthma care. Educating patients in self-management of asthma has become a major cha llenge in primary care practice. The process should begin at the time of diagnosis and should be integrated into every step of medical care during office visits and any other clinician-patient interaction. Iden tifying patients' expectations and concerns about their disease at eac h office visit helps the clinician focus care. The educational effort should include a discussion of basic asthma facts, and the types and u ses of medications, and a demonstration of the skills involved in the proper use of metered-dose inhalers, spacers and peak flow meters. A w ritten asthma self-management plan developed jointly by the clinician and the patient includes recommended daily medications and the specifi c steps the patient should take to control asthma and achieve the goal s of asthma care.