Foreword
Asthma management has continued to improve in Australia, and
health professionals are now caring for people with asthma
with more information, skills and sophisticated medications
at their disposal than ever before. However, adherence to
medication regimens and lifestyle advice can still be
difficult for many patients, despite ever-increasing amounts
of information and the efforts of doctors, pharmacists,
asthma educators and nurses to improve their communication
skills.
The challenges of modern medicine, in particular
the management of such complex diseases as asthma, make
teamwork essential if any healthcare strategy is to succeed.
The achievements of the National Asthma Council in bringing
together the various partners in asthma in a concerted
effort are well known. Further progress depends on more
effectively including the patient in that partnership.
Understanding the barriers to adherence, and encouraging appropriate
self-care and commitment in a true partnership with the patient, is essential.
Health professionals need the ability to assess and equip patients for improved
self-management using adherence strategies for which there is a growing evidence
base.
Asthma, as a chronic illness with acute phases, presents special challenges.
Overcoming the health beliefs that can lead to denial of the condition,
countering the negative connotations and dealing with the psychosocial issues of
taking long-term medication can be daunting tasks for those of us whose main
training has been as clinicians rather than psychologists or behaviouralists.
This guide attempts to redress that imbalance by providing practical, targeted
and succinct information on managing these issues.
The advice and strategies
contained in this guide should be useful across a range of
chronic conditions; their range is not confined to asthma.
The Department of Health and Aged Care is pleased to have
supported this publication and I hope that it will stimulate
new relationships between professionals and people with
asthma, leading to improved health outcomes.
Dr Michael Wooldridge
Minister for Health and Aged Care
