Physicians, Nurses and Respiratory Therapists
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National Asthma Guidelines Updated
New Approaches for Monitoring Asthma Control, Expanded Recommendations for Children
The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) issued the first comprehensive update in a decade of clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. The guidelines emphasize the importance of asthma control and introduce new approaches for monitoring asthma. Updated recommendations for managing asthma include an expanded section on childhood asthma (with an additional age group), new guidance on medications, new recommendations on patient education in settings beyond the physician's office, and new advice for controlling environmental factors that can cause asthma symptoms.
Coordinated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health, NAEPP convenes an expert panel when there is sufficient science to warrant a rigorous, systematic review of the published medical literature to ensure that the asthma guidelines reflect the latest scientific advances.
Eliminate deaths from asthma in Arizona: This is the vision of the Arizona Asthma Coalition
Hospitalizations and emergency room visits due to asthma are preventable when patients receive the appropriate primary care. Under treatment and inappropriate therapy are major contributors to asthma morbidity and mortality in the United States .
Primary care physicians, nurses, allergists, pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, health care plans, pharmacists and school nurses are all part of a team of caregivers who can improve the asthma care for people with asthma.
Based on the state of knowledge today, the National Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma provide the best algorithms for diagnosing and managing asthma. The guidelines are based on recommendations of the Expert Panel of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Through collaboration and partnerships with medical providers and health care organizations, the Arizona Asthma Coalition encourages the use of these guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. These "best practices" are summarized in this section.
Here you can retrieve a very informative chart entitled, "Stepwise Approach for Managing Asthma". Since the chart is the size of a full page in landscape format, we've provided it in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) and Microsoft Word formats.
Just click on the links below and be sure to print in landscape format.
Managing_Asthma.pdf (Acrobat format, 45K)
NOTE: It is the intent of the Arizona Asthma Coalition that asthma tools, such as asthma action plans, are used by providers to improve patient care. Many of the tools clearly state that they can be produced for patient care purposes. You may print them off this site and make as many copies as you need. All tools on our website are meant to be used, but you should check with the individual organizations about their specific copyright rules. You can go to the organization's website to make sure that you are allowed to use the tool or call them directly. YOU MAY NOT DUPLICATE THESE TOOLS FOR SALE.
Patient-Family Tool Kit
The Patient-Family Tool Kit contains asthma education materials for your asthma patients and their families. These materials may be duplicated and sent home with your asthma patients, giving them the opportunity to read and fully understand the information. We hope this information will enhane the patient education you and your staff provide in the office, clinic or hospital.
Patient-Family Asthma Tool Kit
Provider's Tool Kit
The Provider's Tool Kit contains some key points and new information about asthma. It is not intended to be comprehensive and it does not cover all aspects of asthma care and management. In addition to the information contained in the Provider's Tool Kit, we have added several links to asthma action plans and the asthma guidelines. We have provided several asthma action plans in both English and Spanish for you to choose from. There are many other action plans available, so find the one that works best for your patients.
Provider's Tool Kit
Asthma Pocketguide
Asthma Action Plan - Amercan Lung Association
AAP - Peak Flow Numbers (English)
AAP - Peak Flow Numbers (Spanish)
Asthma Action Plan - Standard (English)
Asthma Action Plan - Standard (Spanish)
Asthma Action Plan - Peak Flow Meter Calculator
If you do not have the free Adobe Acrobat reader, click here and download it for free.
Get Certified
The NAECB exam is a voluntary testing program used to assess qualified health professionals knowledge in asthma education. It is an evaluative process that demonstrates that rigorous education and experience requirements have been met. Certification is voluntary and is not required by law for employment in the field, although some agencies may use AE-C® certification as a basis for employment, job promotions, salary increases, or other considerations.
http://www.naecb.org/
Asthma Data
Nationwide Asthma
- Affected 14 million adults (6.8%) and 6.4 million children (12.2%) in 2002
- More than 4,269 deaths in 2000
- Between 400,000 and 500,000 hospitalized each year
- 14 million days of school missed each year
- About 100 million days of restricted activity each year
- Collective cost estimated to be $12.7 billion for 1998
- Between 1980 and 1994, the prevalence of asthma increased 75% overall and 74% among children 5 to 14 years of age.
Asthma in Arizona
• Asthma is a major chronic disease, effecting the lives of more than 600,000 Arizonans
• Each year there are approximately 67 unnecessary deaths in Arizona
• Eight percent (8%) of all school children have asthma
• Over half (57.4%) of the admissions due to asthma are females
• Although desert communities were once a haven for those with asthma and other breathing difficulties, this is no longer the case
• Adult Hispanics are more likely not to have any health care coverage
In 2005, almost 8 percent of Arizona adults reported they currently have asthma, and the rate among children is even higher. Persons living in both urban and rural areas of Arizona are affected. Approximately 1 in 10 adults in Yuma County reported that they have asthma, and data from 2001 show that 6.5 percent of children are treated for asthma annually, with a slight increase in those seeking services over the years. In Maricopa County, in 2003, 6 percent of children received care for asthma. These treatment rates are higher than the 4 percent national rate.
Opportunities for Tackling Asthma
- Research: disseminate new knowledge about the pathophysiology of the disease
- National Guidelines: implement "best practices" for asthma diagnosis, treatment, case management and patient education
- Prevention: reduce asthma attacks and disability days by following guidelines - avoid triggers, maintain clean indoor environments, diagnosis and treat according to current protocols, develop partnership between caregivers and patients, provide education for patient self-care to reduce frequency and severity of asthma
- Managed Care Quality Improvement: promote improved asthma management in systems as part of HEDIS certification process