[Is self-management practical in bronchial asthma?].
The threat and uncertainty involved in an asthma attack reduce the quality of life for the patient. Life quality can be improved if the patient learns self-management principles. This is easy to learn and involves a simple procedure requiring the patient to refer to written instructions in the event of an asthma exacerbation. As a basis for treatment the patient needs to measure maximum peak flow, which can be done with an easy-to-use peak flow meter. A value above 80% of the personal best indicates that the treatment has been successful. By means of printed instructions in credit card format, the appropriate treatment for particular peak flow values and/or symptoms can be looked up and administered. So far there have been no self-management studies providing a definite answer on what interventions are effective and cost-effective. One clear result is that inhaled steroid therapy must be initiated early. Learning self-management patently leads to improvement in the patient's life quality and safety. In the long run this concept appears to be cost-saving with regard to days lost through sickness and hospitalization.
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012648:Self Care / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*