For Physicians How you can bridge the Asthma GAP
Patients don’t always treat asthma as seriously as they report
Just because patients strongly agree that asthma is a serious condition doesn’t always mean they treat it like one.
In a recent survey, almost all (97%) asthma patients agreed there are serious risks associated with uncontrolled asthma. But 42% of asthma patients reported that controller medication may be taken less regularly when symptoms decrease.
So although they may commit to treating asthma symptoms in your office, your patients may not be taking their medication as recommended.
Emphasize that an absence of symptoms does not mean that asthma is no longer present
Patients may lapse in taking their asthma treatment because they’re not feeling symptoms, even though symptoms like bronchial inflammation may still be present. Help your patients understand that although you may not feel asthma symptoms, it is important to treat asthma EVERY DAY.
