Physicians were helped to observe, evaluate, and react to their own efforts to treat and educate their patients. The purposes of the seminar were to:
- Help physicians create interactive conversation with patients to derive information for making therapeutic decisions.
- Create a congenial and supportive atmosphere so that patients would be candid.
- Reinforce positive efforts of families to self-manage.
- Provide a supportive climate for mutual problem-solving.
- Strengthen patients' skills in using medicines.
- Provide the patient with a view of the long-term therapeutic plan.
- Build patients' confidence to control symptoms.
The program had two components: optimal clinical practice based on National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines, and patient teaching and communications.
There were two 2 1/2-hour seminars, 2-3 weeks apart. The seminars included:
- Brief lectures on clinical practice by respected asthma specialists.
- A video depicting effective clinical teaching and communication behavior.
- Case studies presenting troublesome clinical problems.
- A protocol by which physicians could assess their own behavior regarding patient communications.
- A review of messages to communicate and materials to use when teaching patients.
The topics included:
- What happens in an asthma attack.
- How medicines work.
- Responding to changes in asthma severity.
- How to take medicines.
- Safety of medicines.
- Goals of therapy.
- Criteria of successful treatment.
- Managing asthma at school.
- Identifying and avoiding triggers.
- A long-term treatment plan showing patients at home how to adjust medications.
|