Nurses working in primary and community care settings must make sure people with asthma are provided with an annual review of the condition, to prevent complications, a leading respiratory charity has said.
Research performed by Asthma UK has shown that eight out of 10 people with asthma are not receiving the most basic standards of care including an annual review, a written asthma action plan and an inhaler technique check. It also found that in 2014, one million people with asthma missed their annual review, highlighting the need for healthcare professionals to ensure that patients understand the importance of the review as well as how to manage their condition.
An Asthma UK specialist nurse said: 'It's vital that everyone with asthma has an annual review, where medication is reviewed and a written asthma action plan is produced specifically for them so that they know what to do if symptoms get worse.
The charity has emphasised the need for effective management of asthma, as well as greater awareness of the hazards of the condition. It has stated that three people die each day in the UK as a result of complications to the condition, while 'a classroom full of children die from asthma each year'.
The specialist nurse added: 'It's very important that each individual understands how to manage their condition. Nurses can help people with asthma to manage their condition by ensuring that everyone with the condition in their practice is receiving the basic standards of clinical care highlighted in the BTS guidelines.'
Worldwide Asthma Day was marked on 5 May to raise awareness of the condition. The theme of this year's event was 'It's time to control asthma', emphasising the need for better self-management of the condition.