La educación terapéutica en el asma
- José Javier Korta Murua
- José Valverde Molina
- Manuel Praena Crespo
- Joan Figuerola Mulet
- Carmen Rosa Rodríguez Fernández Oliva
- Santiago Rueda Esteban
- A. Neira Rodríguez
- C. Vázquez Cordero
- M. Martínez Gómez
- J. M. Román Piñana
ISSN: 1695-4033, 1696-4608
Year of publication: 2007
Volume: 66
Issue: 5
Pages: 496-517
Type: Article
More publications in: Anales de Pediatría: Publicación Oficial de la Asociación Española de Pediatría ( AEP )
Abstract
All guidelines, protocols and recommendations underline the importance of therapeutic education as a key element in asthma management and control. Considerable evidence supports the efficacy and effectiveness of this measure. Health personnel, as well as patients and their parents, can and should be educated with two main objectives: to achieve the best possible quality of life and to allow self control of the disease. These goals can be attained through an educational process that should be individually tailored, continuous, progressive, dynamic, and sequential. The process poses more than a few difficulties involving patients, health professionals, and the health systems. Knowledge of the various psychological factors that can be present in asthmatic patients, as well as the factors related to the highly prevalent phenomenon of non-adherence, is essential. Awareness of the factors influencing physician-patient-family communication is also highly important to achieve the objectives set in therapeutic education. The educational process helps knowledge and abilities to be acquired and allows attitudes and beliefs to be modified. Patients and caregivers should be provided with an individual written action plan based on symptoms and/or forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Periodic follow-up visits are also required.