Improving Self-Care in Adults With Asthma Using Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Home Monitoring

Thesis (M.Nurs.), College of Nursing, Washington State UniversityThe National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Center for Environmental Hazards (NCEH) ranks asthma as one of the most common and costly diseases in the United States with an estimated 10.4 million office visits in 1995. Despite advances in clinical treatments, asthma mortality has tripled over the past two decades. Improved patient compliance with treatment plans is associated with improved outcomes. Patient compliance can be achieved when patients have the knowledge, skills and tools to allow them to self-manage their asthma. A "credit card" treatment plan that incorporates the use of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) along with symptom monitoring is an effective way for patients to self-manage their asthma exacerbations. Patient specific treatment plans should also incorporate the CDC and NCEH 1997 recommendations for asthma management. These guidelines delineate asthma into a four tiered severity scale with treatment options for each ofthe severity levels. This paper reviews clinical asthma care with options that incorporate the latest CDC and NCEH asthma guidelines into a clinician and patient friendly treatment plan. A review of all aspects of the clinician visit are reviewed with information on setting up a patient specific treatment plan that allows patients options in self management of their own care