ABSTRACT
Asthma education not only involves the transfer of information and knowledge, but it also incorporates strategies to improve skills and change attitudes, ultimately leading to behavioral change. In this chapter, the authors describe the essential components of effective education and discuss best-practice recommendations. They present evidence supporting asthma self-management education in a number of different patient populations. Improvements in asthma knowledge and control have been demonstrated in programs delivered in the primary care outpatient, hospital, and emergency department settings as well as through the internet and mobile phone technologies. In terms of asthma management skills, inhaler technique assessment and correction are vital as are the initiation of self-monitoring of the symptoms and/or peak flows, the prescription, and an agreement on a written action plan that includes the course of action to take following an increase in asthma signs and symptoms. Asthma self-management education has been tested in many different patient groups.
