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Lessons in Asthma Care
The Toronto Hospital Offers Educational Sessions to People with Asthma
(Toronto, March 18, 1997) The Toronto Hospital has launched a new program
to help people with asthma cope with their disease better. People with asthma
can now be referred by their family physician for an education and counselling
session at the Asthma Centre of The Toronto Hospital.
This means patients can be referred to a specially trained asthma nurse
without first being referred to a specialist at the hospital. A recent study
by a Toronto Hospital respirologist recently found the more knowledgeable
patients are about asthma the greater the chance of reducing the severity
of their asthma attacks. The study published in the February issue of Chest
also found that a ready action plan to handle the asthma attack will go
a long way to reduce the pain and suffering associated with asthma.
The study conducted by Dr. Kenneth Chapman, Director of the Asthma Centre,
compared the characteristics of those attending the Asthma Centre and those
visiting the hospital's Emergency Department for their asthma attacks. "Patients
with asthma who receive continuous care at an asthma clinic are more effective
in managing their chronic disease, Dr. Chapman says. "These patients
are more knowledgeable about their disease and have a predetermined self-management
plan. This results in milder attacks and fewer visits to the hospital."
Patients referred to the Asthma Centre for educational counselling will
meet with the asthma nurse specialist Kay Khan.
Ms. Khan will first conduct a simple test to assess breathing capacity.
She'll also assess the knowledge patients have and educate them about asthma.
As part of the educational session, Ms. Khan will teach patients about environmental
control measures, how to use their inhalers correctly, review their medication
with them and also review a patient's self-management plan. "It's important
that everyone with asthma have a self-management plan," Ms. Khan says.
"A self-management plan will help patients cope better with their asthma
and prevent attacks. There are a number of useful self-help strategies that
can reduce the severity of an episode until the doctor can be consulted.
Such plans must be individualized to meet the specific needs of patients."
Ms. Khan, a nurse with 25 years experience, recently received special training
as an asthma nurse specialist. She completed a diploma and instructor program
offered by the National Asthma Training Centre under the auspices of the
Royal College of General Practitioners in Birmingham, England. The Asthma
Centre at The Toronto Hospital specializes in the diagnosis , treatment,
management and education for people with asthma and other respiratory problems.
It is staffed by a team of specialist physicians, pulmonary technologists,
an asthma nurse specialist, and research staff. The Asthma Centre is open
daily from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number
for the Centre is (416) 603-5864.
For more information, contact Josey Panetta, Senior Media Relations
Office,
The Toronto Hospital, (416)-340-3303.