The National Asthma Council Australia has launched an Asthma Best Practice series of six educational webinars.
Included is a timely ‘Asthma in Spring’ webinar. Late September to December is when the amount of rye grass pollen and other material such as fungi or dust in the air can increase. This occurs across south-eastern Australia and becomes a significant risk for patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis.
The Asthma in Spring workshop covers:
- The association between allergic rhinitis and asthma.
- Treatment guidelines for allergic rhinitis.
- Those at greater risk of thunderstorm asthma and the management guidelines.
- The importance of written asthma action plans and asthma first aid in thunderstorm asthma season.
Registered Nurse and asthma and respiratory educator, Ms Marg Gordon, said all webinar content was based on the Australian Asthma Handbook.
“We know that asthma affects approximately 10 per cent of the Australian population and when assessed, half of these people have poorly controlled asthma,” Ms Gordon said. “We also know that approximately 15 per cent of Australians have allergic rhinitis and it is often under-diagnosed, under-treated 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.”
The webinar includes information about preparing your clinic to take a proactive approach, such as using telehealth to conduct asthma reviews during the COVID-19 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,” Ms Gordon said.
Other webinars in the series include Asthma Medications and Devices, Paediatric Asthma in 2020, and Adult Asthma in 2020.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we live and work, the Bundjalung, Arakwal, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Githabul, Dunghutti and Birpai Nations, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.
