The Management of Asthma

Objectives

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• Explain the terms used to characterize asthma (severity, control, impairment, risk) and the use of an Asthma Action Plan.
• Use clinical practice guidelines to establish goals of therapy, gaps in care, and appropriateness of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions.
• Assess patient-specific information to create an individualized care plan including appropriateness, efficacy, and safety for drug therapy and lifestyle modifications.
• Develop appropriate follow-up and monitoring strategies to evaluate patient response to drug therapy.

Program Overview

Module 1: Overview of Asthma

Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Know the epidemiology of asthma for the United States.
• Explain the pathophysiology of asthma and the factors that contribute to acute and chronic asthma.
• Explain the terms used to characterize asthma (severity, control, impairment, risk) and the use of an Asthma Action Plan.
• Identify how specific conditions may mimic asthma or contribute to the control of asthma.
• Differentiate between asthma and COPD.

Module 2: Management and Treatment of Asthma

Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Emphasize and interpret the results of appropriate objective measures used to assess asthma control.
• Use clinical practice guidelines to establish goals of therapy, gaps in care, and appropriateness of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions.
• Assess patient-specific information to create an individualized care plan including appropriateness, efficacy, and safety for drug therapy and lifestyle modifications.
• Develop appropriate follow-up and monitoring strategies to evaluate patient response to drug therapy.
• Analyze updated CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices vaccine recommendations for immunization schedules for patients with asthma.

Module 3: Appropriate Use of Inhalers and Other Devices for Patients with Asthma and COPD

Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Describe the steps for appropriate use for each of the available inhaler devices.
• Examine a patient’s use of an inhaler and identify inhalation technique errors.
• Select an optimal inhaler device based on patient specific characteristics.
• Describe the steps for appropriate use of spacers and explain the maintenance of a spacer.
• Describe the appropriate use of nebulizers and explain the maintenance of a nebulizer.
• Describe the steps for using a peak flow meter and explain how to use the results in an asthma action plan.

Requirements for Successful Course Completion

In order to earn credit for this course, participants must complete the Inhaler Demonstration quiz and final assessment with a score of 70% or higher. Two chances to pass each assessment will be given. If a passing score is not earned by the second attempt, the participant must re-enroll in the course. Upon successful completion of all coursework, participants must complete a course evaluation form.

Course Access

To access your course after enrollment, please click the link below.

http://elearning.ufl.edu/

Click the blue “Log in to Continuing Education” button and enter your login credentials. You should then see your course on the Canvas dashboard or by clicking Courses>All Courses.

Disclosure Statement

The following speakers, reviewers, and planning committee members have disclosed that he/she has no relevant financial disclosures. No one else in a position to control content has any financial relationships to disclose.

Department: Pharmacy Education and Practice

Tracy E Leonard R.Ph., BCPP, BCACP, CDCES, CPh

Instructional Assistant Professor

Additional Resources

Please review the resources below before registering for the course.

The University of Florida College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.