Asthma education: Getting the patient involved

By establishing a relationship that enables effective communication, you can support your patients in successfully managing their asthma. As a coach, you can help patients acquire the specific skills and confidence needed to recognize the symptoms of an exacerbation, respond appropriately, and determine whether further care is necessary. After you have built a rapport with the patient, you can help tailor an asthma plan to his or her own goals. Specific objectives, including how to control environmental triggers, should be kept in mind for each patient visit. Building an effective connection with patients requires careful listening and questioning, analyzing their needs, and organizing and appropriately delivering your messages. To make sure patients understand what you have discussed, ask them to restate information or key instructions.