title: Monitoring peak flow rates as a health-promoting behavior in managing and improving asthma.
abstract: Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood. Nurse practitioners, caring for patients in a primary care setting, will frequently encounter asthma. Peak flow monitoring of pulmonary function can greatly assist in diagnosis and treatment. A review of the literature on asthma management supports the many benefits of monitoring peak flow rates. Among the benefits are providing early recognition of airflow obstruction, identifying triggers, and monitoring a patient's response to therapy. Coordinated care, asthma education, and consistent practices reduce the frequency of asthma symptoms, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and days missed from work or school. Improved communication between the nurse practitioner and the patient can facilitate more effective management of the common chronic illness.
authors.affiliation: Westwood Pediatric Associates, Westwood, MA, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Klements
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology