Table 1.

Self management skills adopted from Lahdensuo 1999 (box 2)

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