Abstract
Aim
To identify from the literature what terms are used for ‘asthma plans’, with what meaning, and in what context(s).
Methods
Linguistic analysis of a selected body of asthma literature from 1989-2009.
Results
A wide range of asthma plan terminology was evident, with terms such as ‘action plans’, ‘self-management plans’ and ‘treatment plans’ being applied inconsistently and synonymously. For individual patients the term ‘asthma plan’ can describe a clinically-determined list of prescribed medication, an agreed plan to guide self-management of changing symptoms, or a more holistic ‘living with asthma’ plan. In some contexts the term ‘asthma plan’ was also used to describe an organisational system of care, which causes further ambiguity.
Conclusions
Within the literature, a plethora of terms is used inconsistently and with varied meaning. This is a potential, but previously unrecognised, barrier to asthma plan implementation. A taxonomy of asthma plans and a standardised definitions of terms is required.
Keywords: asthma, action plans, self-management plans, terminology, meaning, linguistic analysis
Full Text
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Footnotes
HP chairs the Patient education and self-management Evidence Review Group of the British Thoracic Society / Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network asthma guideline. AS is a past chair of the British Thoracic Society's Science and Research Committee and a member of its Council and Executive. No other authors report any conflict of interests
AS is Joint Editor-in-Chief of, and HP an Associate Editor of, the PCRJ; neither were involved in the editorial review of, nor the decision to publish, this article