title: Using a matrix as an educational approach to asthma.
abstract: Health care providers agree that asthma care must be individualized to fit the need of the child and family. A written plan in the form of a matrix enables the health care provider to give families a step-by-step individualized plan of care for asthma. This article discusses the use of a long-term treatment plan in matrix form as an educational tool for health care providers and for families. The written long-term plan can be used to guide treatment for any level of asthma severity. Following a review of asthma pathogenesis and diagnosis, categories of medications are presented, along with their role in a long-term treatment plan. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines are used as a basis for the recommendations in the long-term treatment plan.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Pediatric Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: Benay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiesemann
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents