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The first Tuesday of May each year, people around the globe come together to celebrate World Asthma Day. This year it is on May 7th. World Asthma Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about asthma. It is also an opportunity to share educational information about asthma.
“Asthma Education Empowers” as the theme for World Asthma Day. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) has selected this year’s theme. GINA is a global organization that aims to reduce asthma rates, illness, and asthma deaths. GINA’s works with health care professionals, patient representatives and public health officials.
Why is asthma education important? Asthma education helps people learn how to better manage their asthma.
Research shows asthma education empowers people to:
- follow through on their treatment plan;
- correctly use asthma inhalers so they get the most out of their medication;
- keep symptoms well-managed;
- seek an asthma specialist if symptoms worsen.
Asthma education is also important for healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals need to stay up to date on the latest asthma care guidelines. With that knowledge they can improve care for people with asthma.
Here are 6 education programs in which Allergy & Asthma Network empowers people with asthma education:
1. Trusted Messengers Program
Trusted Messengers is our award-winning, multifaceted health equity initiative. It helps people get the knowledge they need from trusted, credible sources. They can then adopt healthy behaviors and make informed health decisions.
Trusted Messengers has three parts:
● Outreach events in under-resourced communities.
● Partnerships with local groups.
● Free virtual asthma coaching to improve asthma self-management.
This health equity initiative:
● Enables asthma coaches to meet people at health fairs and local events.
● Provides easy-to-read, culturally responsive information in English and Spanish. Educational resources cover asthma, allergies, eczema, and other health issues.
● Encourages trust in the healthcare system, self-management, self-advocacy, and shared decision-making.
● Creates chances for patients to learn about joining research. They can also learn about taking part in clinical trials.
2. Virtual Asthma Coaching Program
Trusted Messengers Virtual Asthma Coaching Program is an award-winning service. It helps people learn how to better manage their asthma.
This free asthma education program helps people better understand their condition. It also helps them improve their asthma management skills.
Asthma educators work with patients one-on-one by using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Asthma educators address barriers to care and provide asthma education and guidance. Adults with uncontrolled asthma who take part in virtual asthma coaching have better asthma control and quality of life. They also have fewer doctor or emergency visits.
3. USAsthma Summit
We offer an annual USAsthma Summit. The summit takes place during the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) annual meeting in the fall.
The summit is an engaging, interactive one-day event. The goal is to give health professionals information about the latest in asthma care. The program is free and offered in-person and virtually.
4. Webinars
We host free, hour-long educational webinars. They are powerful platforms for asthma education. The webinars offer guidelines-based asthma education. They are for healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers.
We offer three different types of webinars. Healthcare professionals as well as patients and caregivers are welcome to attend.
- Our “Advances in Allergy & Asthma” webinar series is offered in partnership with the ACAAI. The monthly webinars are educational. They provide continuing medical education (CME) credits to healthcare professionals.
- Non-CME webinars cover current topics on asthma, allergies, eczema, and related diseases.
- The “Black People Like Me” and “Unidos Hablemos” virtual conference series are for patients and caregivers. They aim to improve knowledge and health equity in communities where people have limited access to health care. The Unidos Hablemos series is offered in English and Spanish.
5. Online Resources
Allergy & Asthma Network’s online resources benefit patients, caregivers, and providers. Resources are available for education on allergies, asthma, and related conditions. Educational resources are designed to empower people to manage their conditions effectively.
Online resources are available on our websites:
We also offer online resources through our online store. Many are available as free digital downloads.
Our online resources help people with asthma and their caregivers can learn about triggers, symptoms, and management. This can improve their well-being.
Healthcare providers also find our resources helpful for use in their clinics. The most popular resource from Allergy & Asthma Network is its Respiratory Treatments Poster. It lists treatments for respiratory illnesses. This encourages important conversations between patients and providers.
6. Podcasts
We partner with allergist Payel Gupta, MD and Kortney Kwong Hing, co-hosts of The Itch podcast. The Itch Podcast offers the “Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations” podcast series. The podcasts are 20 minutes long. They cover topics related to asthma, allergies, and related conditions.
Asthma Education Does Empower
Asthma education is core to our work at Allergy & Asthma Network. Learning about asthma improves how it is managed. It can reduce hospitalizations, emergency visits and deaths due to asthma. It also betters people’s health and their lives.
Allergy & Asthma Network is proud to support GINA’s theme for World Asthma Day: “Asthma Education Empowers.”
Special thanks to Amgen, Sanofi, and Regeneron for supporting our awareness day efforts.
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