The National Asthma Council Australia has launched an Asthma Best Practice education webinar for health professionals in time for Spring 2020.
According to the Council, late September to December is when the amount of rye grass pollen and other allergic material such as fungi or dust in the air can significantly increase right across South-Eastern Australia and become a significant risk for patients with asthma and or allergic rhinitis.
Marg Gordon, Registered Nurse and Asthma and Respiratory Educator said the National Asthma Council had developed the webinar series to meet the ongoing need for health professional education.
“We know that asthma affects approximately 10% of the Australian population and when assessed, half of these people have poorly controlled asthma. We also know that approximately 15% of Australians have allergic rhinitis and it is often underdiagnosed, undertreated and sub optimally self-treated.
“Spring is an essential time to conduct an asthma review to help patients achieve optimal asthma and allergic rhinitis control, particularly for at risk patients,” she said.
The free workshop covers material based on the Australian Asthma Handbook. Undertaking the webinar can also count towards CPD hours.
Topics in the webinar include:
- the association between allergic rhinitis and asthma
- treatment guidelines for allergic rhinitis
- those at greater risk of thunderstorm asthma and the guidelines of management
- the importance of written asthma action plans and asthma first aid in thunderstorm asthma season.
There is also information about preparing your clinic to take a proactive approach this spring using current practices like Telehealth to conduct asthma reviews during the COVID pandemic.
“General practices and pharmacies, particularly those across South Eastern Australia, should ensure they have an Emergency Asthma Plan Policy for patients presenting with an asthma flare up, all staff are trained in asthma first aid and there are good supplies of reliever medications and spacers on hand, particularly for emergency use,” said Ms Gordon.
Further information can be found at:
https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/health-professionals/education-training/asthma-and-respiratory-workshop-education-program
