Asthma control, education, and the role of the respiratory therapist.

Asthma is the most frequent chronic respiratory disorder and our understanding of its mechanisms and its optimal management has significantly improved in the last few decades. Unfortunately it is still too often poorly controlled and evidence-based guidelines are still insufficiently implemented. Ac...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 15 - 22
Main Author: Boulet, Louis-Philippe
Format: tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists 2011 Winter
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:Asthma is the most frequent chronic respiratory disorder and our understanding of its mechanisms and its optimal management has significantly improved in the last few decades. Unfortunately it is still too often poorly controlled and evidence-based guidelines are still insufficiently implemented. Achievement and maintenance of asthma control can be obtained through patient education, adequate assessment of control including objective measures of airway function, environmental measures, adapted pharmacotherapy and regular follow-up. The Respiratory Therapist has a major role in asthma care.