Assessment Findings
The patient needs more knowledge on how to acquire proper tools for his asthmatic management. He also needs to find a healthcare grouping where he can team up with a healthcare professional that will help him understand the disease much better and get the best knowledge of management. In healthcare and disease management, information is very critical, and the patient should have and find empowerment with the right information. Although the patient understands his medical condition, he lacks necessary information on some essential management techniques that can help him understand and undertake a self-management exercise effectively ( Levivien, Carr, Curatolo & Rieutord, 2019) . For example, the patient does not understand the usage of PFMs and other asthmatic action strategies that are critical for controlling and monitoring his symptoms. He needs to know and adequately understand how the PFMs work and the necessary steps of managing and monitoring. In all healthcare situation and treatment, education, and training a patient is critical for the success of any diagnosis and treatment plan.
All through the training, the patient will be given and provided with pamphlets detailing on all aspects of asthma that include the signs, symptoms, monitoring system, spacers, aid, sulfites trigger exacerbations, environmental triggers, and home-based intervention strategies. These details will be incorporated into the teaching and will form part of the overall treatment plan.
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Education Needs
The primary and most essential education needs for the patient include medication, management strategies, preventing asthma attacks, and controlling symptoms. Other critical education needs include using inhalers, asthma triggers, and overall knowledge about asthma, especially the role of empowering oneself with expertise in its management ( Levivien et al. 2019) . Another essential aspect of education is the role played by a close relationship with healthcare provides who the patient will engage and collaborate with to monitor and assess his condition. One of the most crucial aspects of education needs for disease management is appreciating the power of information. According to Levivien et al., (2019) having the right information is critical for effective management, and thus an asthma patient needs to have the best management strategies, especially in managing his condition at home. Due to the prevalent aspect of asthma in society, information is critical in its management. By empowering patients with the right information, a healthcare professional is playing a crucial role in minimizing patients' suffering and discomfort. Minimization of distress and suffering formed the basis of this topic on asthmatic conditions.
Teaching a Slow Patient
As a slow patient, several points had to be repeated more than once. The patient was given time to go over the basics and echo back their responses. The patient was taught how to master main points in addition to emphasizing some of the primary learning objectives.
Asthma
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a lung infection known for the narrowing of the airwaves in the lungs. The disease is a long term condition and is commonly known as a chronic respiratory illness ( Gelfand, Kaplan, Hayden & Bender, 2018) . It narrows the airwaves making breathing difficult.
Source: https://coloradoallergy.com/asthma-101/
Causes
Its cause is not known but varies from person to person. In the case the airwaves are inflamed, they make breathing difficult. It is mainly triggered when one comes into contact with a trigger. Primary triggers include smoke, weather, sinusitis, smoking, heartburn, exercise, food additives, and food ( Halterman et al., 2018) . An allergy may also trigger asthma.
Allergies such as dust mites, weed pollens, trees, and cockroach droppings, animal dander, and grass may trigger difficulty in breathing.
Food allergies that can cause asthma include severe or just mild asthma include; eggs, soy, fish, salads, fresh fruits, tree nuts, peanuts, and shellfish. Food preservatives may also cause asthma ( O'Byrne, Jenkins & Bateman, 2017) . They include sodium sulfite, potassium metabisulfite, sodium bisulfite, and sulfite additives.
Signs and Symptoms
The condition is characterized by swelling of the bronchial tubes, producing sticky secretions. The main symptoms include;
Wheezing
Coughing (mostly at night)
Breathlessness
Tight Chest
Pain in the chest
Symptoms vary from person to person. While some people experience severe symptoms, some have mild symptoms. Some do not show signs easily and may take time without showing any indication of being asthmatic.
Source: https://firstaidforlife.org.uk/asthma-how-to-help-in-an-asthma-attack/
Asthmatic Attacks
Asthma attacks range from mild to severe. Some may last for an extended period, while others may only last a few minutes. It is essential to understand the difference between mild and severe episodes of asthma.
Risk Factors
It is essential to understand the severity of one’s condition and learn based on control. It is, however, important not to smoke, avoid polluted air, and allergens ( Chmielewski, 2019) . It is also critical to be keen on one’s health status. Understanding your risk factors is the number one management strategy of the condition.
Source: https://www.123rf.com/photo_68353618_stock-vector-asthma-infographic-elements-detail-about-of-asthma-symptoms-and-causes-have-man-uses-an-inhaler-beca.html
Allergies and Asthma
The two go hand in hand. Allergic rhinitis is the inflammation of the inside lining of the nose. Halterman et al., (2018) stated that it is prevalent. Allergic rhinitis is caused by the entry of a foreign substance into the body. When the body’s immune cells get in touch with allergens. Most allergies gain entry via the airwaves.
Allergic rhinitis is characterized by non-stop sneezing, running nose, scratchy throat, and weepy eyes. Hinds et al., (2017) maintained that often symptoms are caused by allergic rhinitis. The condition can be controlled by medication. Others include exercise-induced cough-variant asthma, occupational asthma, and nighttime asthma ( Zaidan, Ameredes & Calhoun, 2020) . Nighttime asthma mainly occurs at night.
Source: https://firstaidforlife.org.uk/asthma-how-to-help-in-an-asthma-attack/
Medication and Management
In understanding one’s risk factors, one can manage the condition well. There are two main types of medication;
Controller Medication : Helps prevent asthma attacks. The drugs help reduce inflammation, and one is less likely to react to triggers.
Quick Relief Medication: Also known as rescue medication. They are mostly for exercise-induced asthma ( Hinds et al., 2018) . They mainly help relax muscles in the airwaves. It is crucial to understand one’s type of asthma to use the appropriate medication. A patient is advised to inquire from a healthcare practitioner the best remedy and how they work.
References
Chmielewski, M. V. (2019). A primary care learning collaborative to improve office systems and clinical management of pediatric asthma. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/src/2019/program/82/
Gelfand, E. W., Kaplan, A. G., Hayden, M. L., & Bender, B. G. (2018). Ever-evolving Concepts in the Asthma Management Landscape in the United States. Journal of Family Practice , 67 (10), S4-S4.
Halterman, J. S., Fagnano, M., Tajon, R. S., Tremblay, P., Wang, H., Butz, A., ... & McConnochie, K. M. (2018). Effect of the School-Based Telemedicine Enhanced Asthma Management (SB-TEAM) program on asthma morbidity: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA pediatrics , 172 (3), e174938-e174938. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5885835/
Hinds, D., Chapman, K. R., Piazza, P., Gibbs, M., Raherison, C., Gaalswyk, K., ... & Davis, K. (2017). Physician Perspectives on the Burden and Management of Asthma in Six Countries: The Global Asthma Physician Survey (GAPS). Pneumologie , 71 (S 01), P226.
Levivien, C., Carr, R., Curatolo, N., & Rieutord, A. (2019). Analysis of knowledge evaluation tools for pediatric patients participating in an asthma education program. Journal de Pharmacie Clinique , 38 (4), 187-195.
O'Byrne, P. M., Jenkins, C., & Bateman, E. D. (2017). The paradoxes of asthma management: time for a new approach?. European Respiratory Journal , 50 (3), 1701103.
Zaidan, M. F., Ameredes, B. T., & Calhoun, W. J. (2020). Management of acute asthma in adults in 2020. JAMA , 323 (6), 563-564.
