The role of the practice nurse in the management of asthma

Management of asthma in primary care

“…[10][11][12][13] The nurse's tasks would include: • confirming the diagnosis by using serial and/or reversible lung function tests (peak expiratory flow -PEF, or spirometry) • helping to select and then teach the patient how to use their inhaler • instructing on the use of self-management plans (also known as asthma action plans, SMPs or AAPs) • assessing and evaluating asthma control and progress over time.…”

What's in this issue?

“…There was clear evidence of delayed diagnosis [6,7], under treatment [8], and ongoing concerns regarding preventable asthma deaths [9], often in patients with identifiable psychosocial and behavioural risk factors [10,11]. This need for improvement in primary care management led to the development of GP specialinterest groups (such as the General Practice Airways Group (GPIAG) in the UK [12]) and an evolution in the role of the primary care asthma nurse [13,14]. This development was replicated in many other countries worldwide, culminating in the formation of the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) in 2000, an organisation which now has thousands of members in 34 countries who have a special interest in primary care respiratory medicine.…”

Management of COPD in Primary Care in Leicestershire

“…A questionnaire was developed to address the study aims by semi-structured interviews with general practitioners and practice nurses and by adaptation of a questionnaire used in Devon and Cornwall [8,9]. The questionnaire was piloted on five doctors and six nurses in volunteer practices before it was administered.…”