Box 2.

: Self management skills

Patients should:

• Accept that asthma is a long term and treatable disease
• Be able to accurately describe asthma and its treatment
• Actively participate in the control and management of their asthma
• Identify factors that make their asthma worse
• Be able to describe strategies for avoidance or reduction of exacerbating factors
• Recognise the signs and symptoms of worsening asthma
• Follow a prescribed written treatment plan
• Use correct technique for taking drugs including inhalants by metered dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers,diskhalers, spacers, or nebulisers
• Take appropriate action to prevent and treat symptoms in different situations
• Use medical resources appropriately for routine and acute care
• Monitor symptoms and objective measures of asthma control
• Identify barriers to compliance (adherence) to the treatment plan
• Address specific problems that have an impact on their individual condition