Asthma action plans should be encouraged

Information is now available from population studies that identify the need for the National Asthma Council to urgently investigate why the uptake of written asthma action plans is falling among Australians and introduce additional measures to redress the deficit.

Research co-authored by University of Adelaide Associate Professor David Wilson in the current edition of the Medical Journal of Australia reveals the number of patients with written asthma action plans fell from 43.3% 1995 to 22.2% in 2001, while the number of self-reported, doctor-diagnosed asthmatics rose from 8% in 1990 to 12.8% in 2001.

In investigating the issue, researchers assessed the trends in self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma since 1990 and the uptake of asthma action plans in South Australia since 1992.

"The increased prevalence of asthma and associated recent decline in the percentage of patients with asthma action plans is concerning," says Professor Wilson.

In 1990 the National Asthma Campaign was introduced to promote asthma education and the use of the Asthma Management Plan for doctors and asthmatics - a key aspect was to help asthmatics learn to recognise and control deterioration in their condition.

A Cochrane review of asthma education programs shows training in asthma self management, including asthma action plans, improves health outcomes for adult asthmatics.

"The National Asthma Council must persist in developing and promoting guidelines and action plans if improved asthma health outcomes are to be achieved," says Professor Wilson.

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

CONTACT: Associate Professor David H Wilson, Epidemiologist, 0403 969 563

Dr Robert Adams, MD, Respiratory Physician, 0408 836338

Judith Tokley, AMA, 0408 824 306