CURRENT ISSUES

The secret to a successful asthma programme

For an asthma management programme to be successful, patients must believe that the benefits of the programme outweigh the baniers, says Ms Maureen George from the University of Pennsylvania Health System, US.

Patients should be able to identify the benefits of programme participation soon after enrolment, and these benefits should include personalised attention and increased availability of healthcare resources. Disease managers should be able to identify and remove baniers to programme participation, such as a lack of adherence due to comorbid disease or an alternative health belief system. In addition, disease managers need support so that they can meet the needs of the most challenging patients, and remain enthusiastic about the programme benefits. George M. Disease management approaches to asthma: what does it mean for the patient' Disease Management and Health Outcomes 3: 279·291. Jun 1998 80068283 1

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PhannacoEconomics & C1vtrxJmes News 11 Jul 1998 No. 170