Asthma Education Series

About This Course

Patients and families depend upon asthma educators to help them control their asthma symptoms. This continuing education series highlights numerous critical updates to assure that asthma educators have both the knowledge to manage asthma and skills to facilitate our patients’ asthma self-management. The first module describes the efficacy, safety, and side effects of new asthma medications to include biologics. Next, a review of the two major sources of asthma guidelines, GINA and the NAEPP Expert Panel Reports, compares the current updates for each. Pediatric critical asthma syndrome is refractory to usual asthma treatments and requires a hospital admission. The third module discusses the treatments for pediatric critical asthma syndrome in the emergency room and pediatric intensive care unit.

The last three modules address how to facilitate asthma self-management skills. Numerous tools promote patient-centered communication. Learn how to use RESPECT, Ask3Teach3, and motivational interviewing to improve patient engagement and learning. Explore how to extend your asthma education into the community by delving into the social determinants of health, assessing the community’s health, and improving access to health services. The final module reviews how asthma management at home requires different tools and skills. Some patients require home monitoring to improve their asthma control. Learn about the current tools and technological advances, including telehealth, to help people self-manage their asthma. Patients and families appreciate you for advancing your asthma education skills!

This series contains six modules and awards 6 hours of CRCE.

Sponsored in part by an unrestricted grant from Monaghan

Modules

Updates to Asthma Medications

New medications for asthma management continue to enter the market. Thus, seasoned asthma educators need to stay abreast of these new additions and understand their role in asthma management. The module begins with a review of the major classifications of medications prescribed to control asthma symptoms. You will learn the efficacy, safety, side effects, and potential interactions of these medication. Additionally, this module discusses specific asthma phenotypes and endotypes which guide medication management. For our patients with severe asthma, the last section describes the newest classification of medications, biologics, and their indications, FDA-approved age groups, and dosages.

Speaker Information

• Karen L. Gregory DNP, APRN, CNS, RRT, AE-C, FAARC

Breathing Breakthroughs: Mastering the Latest Asthma Guidelines

Asthma educators use clinical guidelines when evaluating a patient’s asthma action plan to confirm the plan offers the best possible asthma control. The two most common sets of guidelines are the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP). The GINA guidelines are updated annually, whereas the NAEPP guidelines are updated as needed. This module reviews each set of guidelines and compares differences between them. In addition to learning about specific medication management and treatment for COVID-19 and asthma, you will explore guidance for treatment options such as exhaled nitric oxide monitoring, indoor allergen mitigation, immunotherapy, and bronchial thermoplasty.

Speaker Information

• Ashley R. Lachowicz MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C

Pediatric Critical Asthma Syndrome

This module defines pediatric critical asthma syndrome, lists current treatments, and provides evidence for each treatment. After reviewing the pathophysiology of asthma, you will learn the treatments targeted for each area of the asthma triad. The module also examines drug regimens, including dosing, frequency, and route for pediatric critical asthma. Additionally, you will learn how to use asthma pathways, scoring systems, and the evidence supporting their use in this population. The module concludes by discussing high-flow nasal cannula, noninvasive ventilation, and helium-oxygen mixture use in pediatric critical asthma.

Speaker Information

• Andrew G. Miller MSc, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, FAARC, FCCM

Effective Asthma Messaging

Effective communication is critical for successful patient education. This module describes key components of patient-centered communication which facilitates trusting relationships with patients. Two simple methods of communication, RESPECT and Ask3Teach3, will help you communicate effectively when educating patients. These two methods foster patient-centered communication, improving patient education. Finally, the foundations of motivational interview will be presented. Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered communication method that allows you to guide patients in creating healthy changes to improve disease management. When thinking about patient education it is important to keep the word “patient” at the center of it – the focus of this module.

Speaker Information

• Nancy L. Guyse MSc, RRT, RRT-NPS, AE-C​

Importance of Asthma Education in Community Health

Many asthma educators begin their careers in acute care settings where patients present themselves to you for care. Expanding skills into providing community education requires new perspectives because you need to locate and engage clients before providing education. Assisting clients in the community requires a strong needs assessment. Learn about how to explore a community’s social determinants of health, collect data, and empower community members to make informed decisions about their health. This module highlights key resources such as community health workers, theoretical models to use in program development, tools to evaluate your program’s effectiveness, and strategies to create partnerships for adherence. You will also learn key strategies for successful methods to engage with your community.

Speaker Information

• Linda Nozart MPH, BSRT, RRT, AE-C

Current and Advanced Practices in Home Monitoring and Telehealth

Asthma is a chronic condition over 27 million Americans have, and many of these people struggle to manage their symptoms daily. A person with asthma is expected to navigate a complicated medical condition in our country’s very complex health system. This can lead to devastating impacts on a person’s ability to manage their asthma and their quality of life. As healthcare providers it is our goal to find an accurate diagnosis, prevent disease progression, and improve or maintain a patient’s quality of life. To assist you in this ever-changing healthcare landscape, this module presents the latest tools and technologies to help your patients take ownership of their health.

Speaker Information

• Sarah Brundidge MSc, RRT, AE-C, CPFT