Patient, Professional, and Public Education on Behavioral Aspects of Asthma: A Review of Strategies for Change and Needed Research

Abstract

Combating increases in asthma morbidity and mortality necessitates an understanding of social and behavioral aspects of the disease. Education for patients, professionals, and the public based on the most current scientific information is required. This paper reviews the existing research on patient education and management of asthma. It discusses physician and family interaction related to asthma management; identifies gaps in the current understanding of relevant patient, professional, and public behavior; outlines needed strategies to improve asthma education; and poses recommendations for further research.

A Training Program for Certified Asthma Educators: Assessing Performance

“…The needs assessment suggested that training programs should focus on asthma knowledge, communication skills, and educational and behavior change theories. This observation supports previous work suggesting that educating health professionals about asthma should focus on updating knowledge of the science base and clinical knowledge, educational skills, and the provider-patient relationship (13). In other words, to be effective, asthma educators need to possess basic skills and knowledge to assess and identify the patient's learning and skill needs and how to most effectively meet those needs (14).…”

Understanding the self-care strategies of patients with asthma

“…Such a strategy poses the most problems and challenges for the health care system. Acute attacks can involve intensive use of emergency services and hospitalization, as well as incurring other major costs associated with reduced activity and absenteeism from the workplace [34][35][36][37], and may even be fatal [38,39]. Our study, however, reveals a positive point: some people are able to abandon this harmful strategy in order to improve their control over asthma symptoms.…”

Effects of educational interventions for self management of asthma in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…PsychINFO (to 1998) was also searched to identify trials published in the educational or behavioural science literature by using the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's search strategy: asthma* OR ASTHMA- in DE OR wheez* OR [(BRONCHIAL*) near (HYPER-REACTIV* or HYPERREACTIV*)]. The reference lists from relevant review articles and all eligible studies were also hand searched 3 7 8…”