Therapeutics in Primary Care: Asthma Part 1
Participants
* Dr Paul Ryan, Therapeutics Clinical Lead, Irish College of GPs
* Dr John Maher - Host
Summary
Dr John Maher is joined by Dr. Paul Ryan to discuss Asthma management in General Practice. This is a two part series.
In today's episode (part 1), Paul discusses:
* Establishing diagnosis in patients with suspected asthma in adults, 5-16yo, and under 5yo cohorts;
* Special considerations in under 5s, where objective tests may be less feasible;
* Reviewing and risk-stratifying patients with confirmed asthma, including the risks of salbutamol overuse;
* Audit and practice improvement project opportunities to optimise management of patients living with asthma under our care.
We will follow up next week week with part 2, where Paul discusses:
* Current guidelines and recommendations, including the 2024 Joint Guideline from the British Thoracic Society, NICE and SIGN;
* An overview of the five steps in managing asthma in primary care, incorporating AIR (Anti-Inflammatory Reliever) and MART (Maintenance And Reliever Therapy) devices;
* Uncontrolled asthma and managing acute exacerbations;
* The importance of considering future risk of acute exacerbations, and when to refer to secondary care for specialist input.
Links
* Irish College of GPs Website [https://www.irishcollegeofgps.ie/]
* Respiratory Clinical Hub [https://www.irishcollegeofgps.ie/Home/Clinical-Hub/Clinical-Topics/Respiratory]
* Asthma – Diagnosis, Assessment and Management in General Practice Quick Reference Guide (Dr Dermot Nolan, Dr Des Murphy, Irish College of GPs, Nov 2020) [https://www.isha.ie/sites/www.isha.ie/files/article_downloadable_resources/Asthma_-_Diagnosis__Assessment_and_Management_in_General_Practice_QRG.pdf]
* BTS/NICE/SIGN Joint Guideline on Asthma: Diagnosis, Monitoring and Chronic Asthma Management (BTS/NICE/SIGN, 2024) [https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/clinical-resources/guidelines/asthma-chronic/]
* HSE “Treat Your Respiratory Tract Infection” Patient Information Leaflet [https://assets.hse.ie/media/documents/Treat_your_Respiratory_Tract_Infection_leaflet.pdf]
* Irish College of GPs Audit Toolkit (Dr Claire Collins, Irish College of GPs, 2019) [https://www.irishcollegeofgps.ie/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=BT6MMRVWPiM%3D&portalid=0] – See Appendix 1: Audit Examples - Example 3 for Asthma
* Asthma Control Test [https://www.asthmacontroltest.com/welcome/]
* Asthma Action Plan (Asthma Society of Ireland) [https://www.asthma.ie/about-asthma/managing-your-asthma/asthma-action-plan/]
* Asthma Inhaler Technique Videos for Patients (Asthma Society of Ireland) [https://www.asthma.ie/resources-and-tips-type/asthma-inhaler-technique/]
Disclaimer
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace independent clinical judgment or consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Irish College of GPs.
Listeners are encouraged to review current clinical guidelines, product labelling, and relevant policies before applying any information discussed in this podcast.
This podcast does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Healthcare professionals should exercise their own professional judgment in evaluating and applying information to specific clinical situations. Patients or members of the public should seek advice from their own qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment. It may not be possible or appropriate in all circumstances to follow the advice/processes suggested in this podcast, for example due to resource availability.
While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, medicine is a constantly evolving field, and no guarantee is made regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information presented.
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