BMJ 1994;308:547-548 (26 February)

Editorials

Asthma: guided self management

Asthma is common in western Europe, and in Britain nearly three million people have the condition.1 Most medical management is provided within primary care, and guidelines are now available for its management.2,3 Although some doctors are sceptical of their value, evidence shows that if guidelines are adapted for local use they can improve some outcome measures.4,5 At the very least they are useful for educating patients and health professionals and provide a "common language" for discussing the condition.

Nearly all of these guidelines mention the value of partnerships between the patient (or parent) and health professional and extol the virtues of written advice to patients and the use of (guided) self management plans. What is meant by such terms, what is the justification for their use, how do we issue advice and plans, and do they work?

All patients with asthma deserve both oral and written advice about signs that . . . [Full text of this article]


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • GALLEFOSS, F., BAKKE, P. S., KJAERSGAARD, P. (1999). Quality of Life Assessment after Patient Education in a Randomized Controlled Study on Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 159: 812-817 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Miller, M R, Ouanjer, P H (1994). Peak Flow meters: a problem of scale. BMJ 308: 548-549 [Full text]  
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