Certified Asthma Educators
by John McNeil, Community Pharmacist

Pharmacists can make an incredible difference in the health outcomes of their patients in the area of asthma care. Asthma, a chronic lung condition that can develop at any age, is most common in childhood and occurs in approximately 7 to 10 percent of the child population.

Asthma is a variable disease, meaning that symptoms may get worse and may improve over time. Because of this changing pattern, it is often necessary to review and change the treatment. Patient education is an extremely important aspect of proper asthma management. Those involved in asthma treatment agree that the best way to manage an individual’s asthma is to have the patient actively involved in his or her treatment. It is necessary to teach not only the patient with asthma but also those people who have regular contact with them. These include teachers, coaches, caregivers, and family members.

Consistent and intensive patient communications go a long way in preventing hospitalizations and complications resulting from poor asthma control. The pharmacist is in an ideal position to work with their patients to help them become aware of what triggers their asthma, to remind them about proper use of asthma devices, to explain the proper use of medications and the expected side effects, to recognize early any worsening control, to advise what to do when proper relief cannot be achieved from their medications. In addition, pharmacists can assist patients in the areas of smoking cessation and proper nutrition. Pharmacists can work with local lung associations to offer programs about lung health to school or community groups.

In order to meet the challenges of asthma control and to better help their patients, pharmacists can become Certified Asthma Educators (CAE). Asthma educators work with patients and their families to teach the necessary steps in asthma self-management. They combine the medical and clinical science of asthma with the art of education and communication to help those with asthma gain control of the disease.

The asthma educator’s goals are to:

• Improve asthma control and long-term management.
• Improve the patient’s quality of life and ability to function.
• Reduce asthma morbidity.
• Reduce health care costs.

A diagnosis of asthma can bring on disbelief and anxiety. Coming to grips with the condition and being willing to learn how to live with it are critical to proper care. The number of devices and types of medications can be intimidating. It is important that people with asthma manage the disease and not allow the disease to manage them. The Certified Asthma Educator can help achieve this goal.

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