HealthTec^dl - Distance Learning for Georgia Health Nonprofits

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Sponsor:  Three River AHEC

Presenter:
David M. Mannino, MD

Session Description:
This update (EPR—3: Full Report 2007) makes a stronger distinction than previous guidelines between classifying asthma severity and assessing asthma control. Interpretation of previous asthma guidelines raised questions about applying the severity classifications once treatment is established and also resulted in placing more emphasis on severity than on ongoing monitoring of whether therapeutic goals were met. This update (EPR—3: Full Report 2007) clarifies the issue:

• For initiating treatment, asthma severity should be classified, and the initial treatment should correspond to the appropriate severity category.
• Once treatment is established, the emphasis is on assessing asthma control to determine if the goals for therapy have been met and if adjustments in therapy (step up or step down) would be appropriate.

Assessment of asthma control includes the two domains of impairment and risk.

• Peak flow monitoring: The recommendation to assess diurnal variation was deleted. New text was added regarding the patients most likely to benefit from routine peak flow monitoring. Emphasis was added that evidence suggests equal benefits to either peak flow or symptom-based monitoring; the important issue continues to be having a monitoring plan in place.
• Parameters for lung function, specifically FEV1/FVC, were added as measures of asthma control for children.
• Minimally invasive markers and pharmacogenetic approaches for monitoring asthma. New text was added. These approaches have gained increasing attention in clinical research, and some applications may be useful in the near future for the clinical management of asthma. The concepts are introduced here, although most require further evaluation before they can be recommended as tools for routine asthma management.

Session Objectives:
By the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Discuss the current epidemiology of asthma.
• Review the most recent guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma.

Continuing Education Statement:

1.0 Contact Hours

Three Rivers AHEC is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Georgia Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Application has been made to the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) for continuing education contact hours for respiratory therapists.

Application has been made to the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) for continuing education contact hours in health education.

Application has been made to Georgia Health Sciences University for AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s).

Technology Requirements:
Participants registering for programs should have access to the following technology for best viewing and participation:

• Personal computer with Macintosh or Windows with 512 MB of RAM
• Broadband internet connection such as an office LAN, DSL, or cable modem
• Phone next to personal computer (or speaker phone if multiple people are viewing)
• Computer speakers (built-in or attached)
• Latest version of Adobe Flash which can be downloaded for free at http://www.adobe.com/

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