Adherence is a major factor in successful asthma management. 

It will be improved by:

• ensuring your patient understands their asthma and treatment
• simplifying medication
• adopting a 'partnership approach' with your patient, and
• teamwork from all health professionals involved

At each consultation consider

• Does your patient have a problem with their asthma?
• Is lack of adherence to a management regimen a possibility?
  • Is it possible they don't understand what is required?
  • Do they have skills for remembering?
  • Do they think it's worthwhile to adhere?
  • What are the implications for them of non-adherence?

These questions may help you create a dialogue and provide a basis for improved adherence. At Diagnosis:

• How important is your health to you when you consider everything else that is going on in your life?
• Do you agree with my diagnosis of asthma? Are there any questions/concerns you have about the diagnosis?
• How serious do you feel your asthma is?
• How do you feel about the medications prescribed?
• Are you concerned about possible side-effects?
• Do you think this treatment plan will work? What potential difficulties might there be?
• On a scale of 1 (least effective) to 10 (most effective), what would you rate yourself as being able to do of the things we have discussed?
• Is it clear to you what we need to do to help manage your asthma?

For Review

• How is the treatment plan going? Let's go over it.  Are you experiencing any difficulties?
• How often do you forget your medications?
• Are there times when you are more likely to forget your medications?
• How do you usually remember? What can we do to help you to remember?

Content updated June 2001