Asthma Management Update

Clicking the "View this Article" button will open the issue as a resizable PDF. To take the test for the issue, return to this Introduction page and click the "Take the Test" button. The Introduction page will remain open after you open this issue. You may need to re-size or close the issue in order to see the Introduction page.

Overview

About 23 million Americans, or 7% of the population, have asthma. It is the most common chronic illness in childhood, affecting an estimated 7 million children in the U.S. In 2007, guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) – Expert Panel Report 3 were published by the National Heart Lung Blood Institute. In addition to providing an overview of asthma recognition and diagnosis, these guidelines updated the assessment and monitoring recommendations and include a “stepped care” treatment approach for children as well as adults.

This issue focuses on information in the NAEPP guidelines that is vital to asthma care and asthma patient education. An update on each class of asthma medications is included, as well as information on the proper use of medications, inhalers and other devices, the avoidance of asthma triggers, and self-monitoring. In addition, a detailed discussion of the safety issues linked with long-acting beta₂-agonists is provided.

Publication Date: Jun-1-10
Expiration Date: Jun-1-13
CE Credit: 1.5 (.15 CEU)
Type of activity: Knowledge-based

This program was developed by The Rx Consultant and published by Continuing Education Network, Inc. The Rx Consultant accepts no advertising or financial support from the pharmaceutical industry and is funded solely by the purchase of programs. The Rx Consultant is dedicated to providing unbiased, balanced information to health care practitioners.

Programs developed by The Rx Consultant are written by health care providers with expertise in the topic area, peer-reviewed, extensively edited, and fact-checked. This development process was created to insure that every program presents information that is current, accurate, relevant to "real world" health care providers, and written in an easy reading, "plain English" style.

Authors

Kimberly M. Crosby, PharmD, BCPS, CGP, Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy practices in the areas of Ambulatory Care and Family Medicine. Ann E. Lloyd, PharmD, BCPS Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy practices in the areas of Adult Medicine and Infectious Disease.

Disclosure Statement

Dr. Crosby and Dr. Lloyd (authors) report no financial or personal relationship with any commercial interest producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing a product or service that appears in this issue. Dr. Graham (associate editor) is an employee of Genentech, Inc. Xolair^® (omalizumab) is a Genentech product.

Editorial and Review Board

Editor and CE Administrator Terry M. Baker, PharmD Associate Editor and CE Coordinator Tracy Farnen, PharmD Associate Editors James Chan, PharmD, PhD Pharmacy Quality and Outcomes Coordinator Kaiser Permanente Oakland, CA Associate Clinical Professor School of Pharmacy University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA Ron Finley, RPh Lecturer Department of Clinical Pharmacy University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA Associate Member of the UCSF Memory and Aging Center Alzheimer's Research Center Consultant Pharmacist to the Institute on Aging-On Lok Senior Health Institute on Aging Alzheimer's Day Care Center Angie S. Graham, PharmD Drug Information Coordinator Stanford Hospital and Clinics Stanford University Medical Center Stanford, CA Julio R. Lopez, PharmD, FCSHP Chief of Pharmacy Service VA Northern California Health Care System Adjunct Clinical Professor College of Pharmacy Touro University Vallejo, CA Assistant Clinical Professor School of Pharmacy University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA

Adjunct Professor Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy University of the Pacific Stockton, CA Visiting Associate Professor and Lecturer Nursing School Samuel Merritt University Oakland, CA Pamela Mausner, MD Joshua J. Neumiller, PharmD, CDE, CGP, FASCP Assistant Professor Department of Pharmacotherapy College of Pharmacy Washington State University And Elder Services of Spokane Spokane, WA Candy Tsourounis, PharmD Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Medication Outcomes Center Department of Clinical Pharmacy School of Pharmacy University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA Senior Editorial Advisor Gerard Hatheway, PharmD, PhD Editorial Advisors Jocelyn Chan, PharmD Belinda M. Danielson, RPh Christopher M. DeSoto, PharmD Cynthia Chan Huang, PharmD, MBA Fred Plageman, PharmD Editorial Advisor and Clinical Practice Consultant for Nurse Practitioners Emily K. Meuleman, RN, C, MS

Accreditation Statements

The Rx Consultant is a publication of Continuing Education Network, Inc.

About the Rx Consultant

The Rx Consultant is a monthly publication dedicated to providing health care professionals with the information they need to educate patients about drugs and manage drug therapy. The reader is responsible for confirming the information presented here and interpreting it in relation to each patient's specific situation before utilizing the information.

Contact Us

Exam Processing Inquiries

The Rx Consultant
mail@rxconsultant.com
1-800-798-3353

Educational Content Inquiries

The Rx Consultant
editor@rxconsultant.com
1-800-798-3353

Target Audience

This accredited program is targeted to pharmacists and nurses.

Exam and Credit Statement Procedures

Upon successful completion of this program and the post test (70%), 1.5 hours of continuing education credit will be awarded. To receive credit and your exam score, please complete the exam questions and program evaluation.

Educational Goals and Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the components used to classify asthma severity and asthma control and how they help guide drug therapy.
2. Explain each step in the approach for managing asthma recommended in the 2007 NAEPP guidelines for patients =12 years.
3. Discuss the role of inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled short- and long-acting beta₂-agonists, leukotriene modifiers, and immunomodulators in the treatment of asthma. Counsel patients egarding the appropriate use and safety of each drug class.