Initiative aims for better asthma control

A new initiative to encourage best practice for health professionals in asthma treatment was launched today by Health Minister Mary Harney.

The initiative is aimed at giving asthma patients better control of their condition and is also aimed at reducing the number of asthma patients requiring hospital admission.

The initiative is modelled on the Finnish Asthma Programme, which demonstrated that it is possible to deliver better healthcare outcomes for asthma with a reduction in healthcare costs.

The project has been developed by the Asthma Society of Ireland in partnership with the Department of Health and the HSE.

It will initially involve around 25 primary care sites nationwide, focusing on bringing evidence-based asthma guidelines into real-life practice, according to the Asthma Society.

Under the programmes, participating healthcare professionals including GPs and practice nurses will complete online and practical education modules based on current international best practice.

Patients enrolled in the programme will be encouraged to participate actively in managing their asthma through education on using a personal asthma plan, correct use of inhalers and using a peakflow meter to monitor control.

Following the initial demonstration project, which will reach up to 5,000 asthma patients, it is hoped to roll out the scheme on a national level.

As part of the project, GPs will receive a spirometer (which measures lung capacity), and each patient will receive a peak flow meter to help them monitor their asthma in between GP visits.

The Asthma Society says the initiative is timely, in view of statistics which show poor asthma control in Ireland.

A recent study showed that across a number of GP practices, as many as 60% of patients failed to meet international standards for asthma control.

New data from the Society has found that 76% of patients do not have a personal, written asthma management plan, which is an essential tool in controlling asthma.

Dr Jean Holohan, CEO of the Asthma Society, said the new project is mnodelled on the Finnish Asthma Programme, which resulted in a 54% reduction in hospital bed days for asthma sufferers and a 90% reduction in deaths from asthma.

"We hope, ultimately, to be able to replicate these results in Ireland."

Visit irishhealth.com's Asthma Clinic at...
http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/asthma/index.html

[Posted: Thu 28/05/2009]